That case file also expounded on one person's views.
Behind these rebellions lay the shadows of sects and aristocratic families. Apart from the rebellions, all manner of churches worshipping evil gods had also sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain, and most of them likewise had certain powers lurking behind them.
The reason was that the Martial Saint, invincible beneath heaven, had not shown himself for thirty years.
Some suspected that the Martial Saint's allotted lifespan had run out and that he had already passed away in meditation. This had thrown the entire Great Xia into a state of storm-tossed uncertainty, with every faction quietly nurturing disloyal ambitions.
That person further put forth a view: once the Martial Saint's passing was confirmed, the realm might return to an age when heroes rose side by side. Thus, the root of these rebellions was a struggle for military power.
They sought to wear down the Court's strength through constant running about, preventing it from suppressing the unrest in time. This would inevitably trigger provisions to loosen control over military power, allowing every local garrison and territorial army to act according to circumstances and freely expand their forces. It would also grant aristocratic families and sects permission to recruit more disciples and retainers.
Once the restrictions on military power were lifted, all factions would have enough strength to suppress the rebellions and the obscene shrines of evil gods throughout the land.
When Jiang Ning saw this, he finally understood completely.
Why had Great Xia seen so many rebellions in last year alone?
This was plainly an opposition between the entire realm and the imperial clan, not an opposition against the Court.
The Court was a regime formed by countless factions.
Loosening military control represented a community of shared interests for everyone apart from the imperial clan.
Whether they harbored ambitions or not, every faction wished to strengthen itself. Once strengthened, they could advance and scheme for greater things, or retreat and choose a powerful side to join, waiting for a good price to sell themselves.
Jiang Ning also understood why the Inspection Office had been formed with lightning speed and why a Martial Saint had been assigned to oversee it.
Forcing the imperial clan to loosen military control—this was plainly an open scheme.
An open scheme that would leave the imperial clan with no choice but to loosen military control. If it did not, the rebellions would never cease, nor would the obscene shrines of evil gods. The Court lacked sufficient strength to suppress them all, which would inevitably shake Great Xia's foundations and bring about another age of winds and rain.
To contend against the great current of the realm, no one but a Martial Saint personally standing guard could establish the Inspection Office.
And once the Inspection Office was truly established, it too would be swept into the great current of the realm.
At that moment, countless thoughts raced through Jiang Ning's mind.
He pondered for dozens of breaths.
Hoo—
Only then did Jiang Ning begin breathing again.
"Do I still have a choice?"
"The chaotic age I previously guessed at is clearly not about to arrive—it has already arrived! If I do not join the Inspection Office, what other faction can I join?"
"The Inspection Office is, at the very least, a temporary place of shelter. As long as I am given some time, I will be able to establish myself in Luoshui County through Martial Dao."
"Only by joining the Inspection Office can I gain that time."
"And only the Inspection Office can give me the fundamental methods for advancing in Martial Dao."
"A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The Inspection Office is still, for now, the biggest tree in the realm. It will not fall anytime soon, and Great Xia, founded more than eight hundred years ago, will not collapse anytime soon either!"
As he considered this, Jiang Ning finally made his decision.
He then set down that case file and picked up another one containing intelligence on Luoshui County.
Since he was in Luoshui County, he could not ignore intelligence recorded about it.
With only a cursory glance through the file, Jiang Ning understood.
These two case files had most likely been sent by Constable Wang, who commanded the garrison outside the city.
The intelligence recorded in these two files was too extensive and too detailed. Aside from Constable Wang, who commanded the garrison outside the city, who else could have delivered such detailed intelligence to Wang Jin?
In Luoshui County, it was no secret that Wang Jin and Constable Wang were blood relatives. Many people knew it.
Constable Wang was very likely Wang Jin's younger brother.
And the reason Constable Wang could sit atop the wall and watch the tigers fight amid Luoshui County's struggle of dragons and snakes—
Was not merely because he controlled those hundred elite troops stationed outside the city. The entire city defense force of Luoshui County was also under his command.
With a hundred elite garrison troops and more than five hundred city guards, his power in Luoshui County was not the slightest bit weaker than that of the county magistrate or the local tyrants led by the three great Lineages.
The county magistrate controlled the county commandant and the chief clerk. Within Luoshui County, he held both military and administrative authority, commanding more than seven hundred constables, constable chiefs, yamen runners, and the like.
Of these, as Jiang Ning knew, the decisive factor was the county magistrate himself. His elder brother had vaguely learned this before.
Apart from these two forces were the local tyrant forces led by the three great Lineages: Cao, Liu, and Xie.
This force was tangled and complex, and Jiang Ning knew little about it. He only knew that no one in Luoshui County could escape the influence of these three great Lineages.
Afterward, Jiang Ning carefully read through this case file concerning Luoshui County.
The file was thick and felt rather weighty in his hands.
In the blink of an eye.
The crescent moon hanging high in the night sky gradually sank toward the east.
[Through this reading, Literacy experience has increased by 48 points.] [Skill]: Literacy (First Limit Break 196/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)
Jiang Ning turned to the final page of the file and slowly withdrew his gaze, only to see the notification before his eyes.
"Roughly three hours, and forty-eight points of experience gained. The efficiency of gaining experience from what I read tonight has increased. There must be some pattern to it, though it is not easy to figure out."
The thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind, and he shook his head.
Then he closed the file and returned it to its original place.
"This file records the major factions and experts of Luoshui County in such detail. It seems it truly was sent by that Constable Wang. Without someone of his standing, how many people could secretly investigate Luoshui County so thoroughly?"
"Even Xu Yunfeng is recorded in it! This man is actually only one step away from entering the ranks of Martial Dao. That is rather unexpected!"
Jiang Ning's gaze drifted as he sank into thought.
"According to the case file, every faction had known about the Inspection Office long ago."
"But of course. Even Wang Jin knew, so how could those deeply rooted and intertwined major factions not have known early on?"
"The end of the file also advised Wang Jin to actively cooperate with the establishment of the Inspection Office. Though the Inspection Office carries dangers, it also presents opportunities."
"It says the Inspection Office most likely represents the Martial Saint's will. That Martial Saint has not appeared for thirty years, but he is very likely still alive and may perhaps show himself before long."
At this thought, Jiang Ning could not help muttering inwardly.
If that is truly the case, joining the Inspection Office really is a good choice.
For me, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
Then he thought of the two people mentioned in that file.
Jiang Ning rubbed his forehead and pondered in silence.
"Cao Bin. Xu Yunfeng."
"Why is Xu Yunfeng targeting my elder brother so fiercely? There must be some entanglement of interests behind it! But what interest could it be? My elder brother is such an insignificant figure, merely a constable who has not entered the ranks. Could he truly have such a great influence on the county magistrate?"
"Could it be that Cao Bin chose my elder brother simply to satisfy his own selfish desires?"
"And could Xu Yunfeng be working so diligently on this matter because of the Inspection Office's impending establishment?"
"If that is the case, then this matter is still fairly easy to resolve. I would only need to face pressure from Cao Bin and Xu Yunfeng."
After thinking for a long while, Jiang Ning came back to himself and shook his head.
Forget it!
There are too few clues. I will not think about this anymore!
What matters most right now is reaching the ranks of Martial Dao within three months. Only then can I join the Inspection Office.
The Inspection Office is overseen by Great Xia's sole Martial Saint. If he is still alive, then he is the greatest tree beneath heaven.
Since a Martial Saint is personally standing guard, that is enough to prove the Inspection Office's importance.
Joining the Inspection Office would be like a fish leaping over the dragon gate for me. I must seize this opportunity!
Not only would my status rise, there would surely be no shortage of cultivation methods, secret arts, and precious medicines.
As for sects, which sect could possess a foundation stronger than the Great Xia Court's?
By then, with the Inspection Office's status, every crisis would resolve itself.
With the Inspection Office's resources, I could also continue developing without end.
This would kill several birds with one stone.
Thanks to Heyuan for the two monthly passes, thanks to 299585 for the monthly pass, thanks to the two numerical reader accounts for their monthly passes, and thanks to 20190405181833303 for the 500 reward.
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