The Chaotic Situation

Due to the existence of long-distance communication methods, the official gazettes in this world are remarkably real-time.

Local prefectures and counties summarize the major events of the day before the Hour of the Dog (7:00 PM) and send them to the Imperial Capital, where the Morning News Bureau under the Hanlin Academy works through the night to select and compile the most important sections.

By the Hour of the Rabbit (5:00 AM) the next day, the Morning News Bureau transmits the compiled gazette content back to the various prefectures and counties, where local government offices post them at their gates by the Hour of the Dragon (7:00 AM) and print them into booklets for sale at bookstores throughout the city.

It is a sort of alternative morning newspaper and the only way for the vast majority of people in this world to learn about national affairs.

The thickness of a gazette is slightly greater than a paper newspaper from my previous life, but the layout is similar.

Big headlines, subheadings, then narrative text, and some even include illustrations.

As he read through it carefully, the expression on Xu Yuan's face became increasingly strange.

Aside from some deaths caused by the annual winter cold wave in the northern provinces, the rest of the Great Yan Dynasty could be summarized in four words: peace and prosperity.

It was not just inconsistent with the background of Cangyuan he was familiar with; it was completely unrelated.

After a long silence, Xu Yuan pulled back the carriage curtain and glanced at the bustling marketplace outside.

Commoners bustled about, peddlers wove through the crowds shouting their wares, young masters and ladies walked by laughing and chatting, and under the twilight, a few glowing inscription lamps had already flickered to life.

Seeing it with his own eyes, it was indeed prosperous.

He withdrew his gaze and continued browsing.

And soon, Xu Yuan found the information he was looking for.

The Great Yan Dynasty was currently at war in the north.

However, it was only given a small amount of space at the very end of the gazette.

"The Ninth Princess led the army north, crushing the barbarian forces beneath the walls of Cold North City and beheading over ten thousand enemies."

A very casual sentence, brushed over in haste.

Xu Yuan put down the gazette, his eyes filled with doubt.

He did not remember such a war in Cangyuan, but judging by the description of these few words, the scale of this war should be massive.

Because he had a faint impression of that Cold North City.

His original self had followed Xu Changge there once as a child.

It was a massive military fortress on the northern border of Great Yan, with walls a hundred zhang high, an endless, majestic expanse exuding a biting chill.

Looking down from the top, one saw only a vast expanse of white snow and mist, like a Great Wall of despair.

Surrounding it were numerous satellite military towns, echoing the main fortress of Cold North City and forming a defensive horn.

Xu Yuan vaguely remembered what Xu Changge had said to him when he was still young:

"Cold North City is the gateway to the northern provinces. Once it is breached, there will be no defenses left on the plains behind it, and the barbarians will spread like locusts, causing immeasurable harm."

"This place must never be lost."

And yet, such a vital stronghold had been besieged by those barbarians only a decade or so later.

"..."

Xu Yuan raised a hand to rub his brow, collecting his thoughts and stopping his speculation, instead speaking aloud:

"Master Zhou, this war in the north—do you know anything about it?"

"Hmm?"

Zhou Chen, who was driving the carriage, heard Xu Yuan's sudden question, let out a soft sound of surprise, pondered for a moment, and shook his head:

"I am not very clear on it. Zhou has never been to the northern border. Hmm, did the Young Master see the war between our Great Yan and those barbarians in the gazette?"

Xu Yuan nodded slightly:

"Yes, I had never understood it before, but now that I see it, I am a bit curious, so I asked you."

"The Young Master is concerned for the country and the people."

Zhou Chen cupped his hands toward the back and said with a smile: "I truly do not know the specific situation, but if the Young Master is truly concerned, you can have the steward prepare a copy of the internal reference from the Prime Minister's Estate after we return. The gazettes within our estate are much more detailed than this thing."

"Internal reference?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Chen said nonchalantly:

"The official gazettes are all selected by the Morning News Bureau; many things are incomplete."

"..."

Xu Yuan understood upon hearing this and said no more.

As if reminded of something by this topic, Zhou Chen, who was driving, suddenly let out a long sigh, took a swig from his wine gourd, and muttered:

"Those fellows at the Morning News Bureau only report the good and hide the bad. Don't they have any idea how chaotic things are outside?"

Hearing this, Xu Yuan's brow immediately furrowed.

How chaotic things are?

Jingjiang City is so prosperous; could it be that things are actually very chaotic outside?

If that were truly the case, it would align with the plot.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Yuan spoke up to ask:

"Mr. Zhou, what do you mean by this 'chaos' you speak of?"

"..."

Zhou Chen looked back at the carriage's small window with a hint of surprise.

Isn't it common knowledge that the world is currently rampant with monster beasts and banditry?

Why would the Third Young Master be unaware of this?

However, after a brief moment of thought, Zhou Chen realized the situation and offered a helpless smile.

The Third Young Master either stays in the Imperial Capital or remains within this massive Jingjiang Prefecture, having almost never stepped outside the city walls. Raised in a honey pot, it is only natural that he would be ignorant of the conditions outside.

Zhou Chen carefully weighed his words before lowering his voice:

"Third Young Master, you have remained within the prefecture city, so you are unaware; in recent years, natural and man-made disasters have been incessant across the land."

As he spoke, Zhou Chen sighed, his tone turning somewhat complex:

"When I was ordered to travel from the Imperial Capital to this Jingjiang City, I encountered countless monster beast attacks along the way. Passing over many villages from the air, one could only see piles of ruined walls and bleached bones."

Xu Yuan's heart sank:

"Monster beast attacks?"

Zhou Chen explained: "I do not mean the domesticated beasts harming people, but those that remain wild in the mountains and forests."

"I understand. My question is, what about the people from the Heavenly Supervision Bureau? Isn't it within their jurisdiction to handle monster beasts harassing the common folk?"

"..."

Zhou Chen did not respond to this.

After a long pause, Seeing Zhou Chen remain silent, Xu Yuan took the initiative to speak:

"Mr. Zhou, if you have something to say, just say it directly. There is no need for hesitation."

Seeing this, Zhou Chen no longer remained silent and offered a smile:

"Because the imperial court has no money."

His laughter carried a faint, lingering trace of sarcasm.

Because there is no money, the Heavenly Supervision Bureau has no manpower, and thus cannot manage the situation.

As for why there is no money?

Heh.

The carriage fell silent for several seconds before a voice finally emerged once more:

"Mr. Zhou, could you explain the reasons behind this? Is it official corruption?"

Hearing this, Zhou Chen no longer held back and said softly:

"That is only one part of it."

"What are the others?" Xu Yuan asked.

Zhou Chen did not answer, but instead asked in return:

"Does the Third Young Master know how many sect-owned businesses there are within this Jingjiang City?"

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head slightly:

"I do not."

Zhou Chen drank his wine while rambling on:

"The Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, the Monster Textile Market in the east of the city, the vast fields outside the city—all these are industries owned by the sects."

"Heh, the silver required to support those sect disciples who do not engage in production is several times greater than the annual military expenditure for the border armies."

Zhou Chen's tone was leisurely, yet his voice was heavy:

"But these sects do not pay taxes. They operate on a system of tribute, and as for how much they contribute each year—heh—they decide that themselves."

Xu Yuan felt a faint tingling on his scalp as he began to understand.

Because the example was right before his eyes.

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion was the property of that Mr. Qin.

And the fact that Xu Changge had tried to kill Mr. Qin during that Tianyuan Assembly proved that he, too, was a member of a local sect.

At least on the surface.

As a den of debauchery, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's nightly profits were immeasurable.

And this was merely one tiny corner of the sects' thousands of industries, yet the imperial court could not collect a single cent from them.

Even the gentry of his past life's ancient history were not this outrageous.

Regardless of how it was actually implemented, at the very least, the taxes for this group of people were officially only reduced or granted preferential treatment.

But over here, these sects simply did not pay them at all.

Seeing that Xu Yuan remained silent for a long time, Zhou Chen cupped his hands toward the sky:

"Third Young Master, the Prime Minister has repeatedly submitted memorials to the Crown Prince, wishing to rectify this issue, yet he has been rebuffed every time by the Crown Prince on the grounds that ancestral laws cannot be lightly altered."

"I suspect that Mr. Qin's attempt on your life was, in all likelihood, because of this matter."