The Dao Enters Officialdom, an Age of Great Strife

"Daoist priest?"

Upon seeing the Daoist priest, Qiu Yan became suspicious.

The others sitting in the hall seemed quite familiar with the Daoist priest and did not show any surprise.

Then, the Daoist priest named Jingquan Zi came up, exchanged a few words with Liu Jing, and then said, "Please write down the information that needs to be conveyed on this piece of paper, so that I may pass it on." With a flick of his sleeve, a piece of paper appeared in his hand.

The paper was yellowed and dry, as if it would crack at any moment.

However, Liu Jing seemed unfazed, ordering someone to bring her pen and ink, and immediately wrote down everything Qiu Yan had just said. Qiu Yan stood aside, answering Liu Jing's questions from time to time.

Ideally, Qiu Yan would have written the letter, as his thoughts would have flowed directly to the tip of his pen. However, since the letter was to be sent to Song Yuan and involved military power, it was decided to have Liu Jing, whose official rank and position were of equal importance, write it.

Not far away, the Daoist priest Jingquan Zi stood quietly in the hall, a smile on his face, his eyes occasionally sweeping over Qiu Yan, a strange look appearing in his eyes.

Liu Jing spent the entire time of a meal writing this, during which she exchanged opinions with other officials several times, refined her wording, and incorporated the latest military intelligence, filling an entire sheet of paper.

Finally, he suddenly stopped, frowned, and asked Qiu Yan with some confusion, "What is the purpose of the Marshfolk's advance? According to you, the Marshfolk lack horses, and after plundering money and grain, their movements become slow, making them easy targets for government troops to pursue, intercept, and surround. In that case, wouldn't their expedition have been a waste of effort?"

"I do have some ideas," Qiu Yan said, having anticipated Liu Jing's question. "When I was in Wuxin City, I met and spoke with the Marshfolk's Prince. I know that his tribe is not stable. This time, it's likely that someone among the Marshfolk has developed a desire to unify the Marshlands. This campaign may be an attempt to use government troops to kill a number of people and reduce internal resistance."

These words were like a wake-up call for Liu Jing and the other officials. Guarding the One, they knew the situation in the southwest and had some understanding of the Marshfolk. They immediately understood the secret behind it.

Liu Jing frowned and said, "Such ruthless methods. I wonder if it was De Ying, Biaoxin, or Jian Duoyi who did this. Given the current situation, their goal has probably been half achieved." After saying that, she wrote down this speculation.

However, the officials present were unaware that Qiu Yan had some things he hadn't said.

The army, led by Biaoxin, plundered artisans and ironware everywhere they went, their ambitions far-reaching. The Barbarians even attempted to use this opportunity to spread their religion, but these matters lacked evidence, and speaking out rashly would only expose their true intentions. Therefore, they kept everything to themselves, waiting for the right moment.

"Alright."

Liu Jing quickly finished writing, read it through once, and then handed it to Jingquan Zi.

"In that case, I shall pass it on now." Taking the paper, Jingquan Zi took a deep breath, then his wrist and fingers moved nimbly. In the blink of an eye, he folded the paper, which was covered with writing, into a paper crane, and finally blew on it.

Snap!

The paper crane made a crisp sound, then flapped its wings and took flight, swaying and bobbing as it left the hall and soared into the sky. It was incredibly fast, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Upon seeing this, Qiu Yan's pupils constricted, and a sense of astonishment welled up within him. "This Daoist priest is actually performing Dao Arts so openly in the government office! How does he resist the influence of Official Qi? And to be involved in the mundane officialdom like this... the entanglements of Karma and effect and karma are no small matter. Is this person not afraid?"

Government Yamen are no ordinary places. Although it is a world where Divine Path and Daoist magic manifest, those with Divine Ability powers still dare not casually display their abilities in officialdom. This involves matters such as the Dragon Court's Fortune and Official Qi, which are of utmost importance.

Qiu Yan dared to take the Imperial Examinations examination because, although his clone had cultivation, it had no master and was not involved Daoist Sect the Daoist sect. Secondly, it had Ambition Karma, which could protect it to a certain extent. Thirdly, it was relatively independent from the original deity, with little Karma Fortune involvement.

Historically, only during periods of dynastic Fortune and great chaos in the fortunes and destinies of the world do cultivators emerge in large numbers, each placing their bets and conquering the world.

"Although the Great Rui Dynasty has passed its peak, it has not yet seen major chaos. Yet, a Daoist priest is openly interfering in the government affairs. Hmm? This reform is, in a sense, a revolutionary move. Could it be that this person is betting his Fortune on it?"

Qiu Yan looked at the Daoist priest, his mind racing with thoughts.

At this moment, Liu Jing summoned two more people and instructed them, "Go to the backyard and prepare two side rooms so that Young Master Qiu and Jingquan Zi can settle in first."

After saying this, he turned to Qiu Yan and Jingquan Zi: "The situation is unclear right now. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I would like to ask you two to stay here for a few days. I will send someone to explain to your relatives and friends and the Daoist temple."

Qiu Yan and Jingquan Zi both nodded and said, "That's exactly right."

Since this matter concerns military intelligence, it cannot be taken lightly. Keeping Qiu Yan and Jingquan Zi in the mansion is not only to prevent information from leaking out, but also to ensure that they can be cleared of suspicion should a similar incident occur.

After a while, someone came to lead the way and took the two away, while the officials in the hall resumed their discussion.

Wuxin City, military camp outside the city.

Ta-da!

A lone rider came from afar, stirring up billowing dust.

The rider galloped into the camp, making his way smoothly to the main tent. He dismounted, went inside, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the General, I have ascertained the situation. The Yongping Army has indeed launched an attack, but they have fallen victim to an ambush by the Marshfolk and the Barbarians, losing approximately a thousand cavalry."

After saying this, he took out a letter from his pocket and presented it to him.

"Oh? Zhang Duling finally lost his patience."

Inside the tent, the generals were lined up on the left and right, with Song Yuan at the head of the table. He was dressed in full armor, sitting with an imposing Great Qi about him. He took the letter, read it once, and then passed it on to the generals.

Beside Song Yuan stood a scholar-like man with a handsome face, red lips, and white teeth. After reading the letter, he smiled and said, "The Five Marshes are a desolate and treacherous place, unsuitable for galloping horses. I've heard that the Southern Zanpu of the Barbarians intends to build another cavalry force and entrust it to one of his sons to lead. Therefore, his sons are all making their own moves to vie for a spot. It seems that this Zhang Duling will fall into the hands of the Barbarians."

The general on the left stepped forward and said, "General, since Zhang Duling has already suffered some losses, shouldn't we send troops to defeat the Yongping Army?"

Immediately, someone retorted, "That's not advisable! Sending troops now would be like pulling chestnuts out of the fire for the Yongping Army. Afterwards, they might even turn the tables and shift the blame for the lost warhorses onto us. I think we should wait and see how things unfold."

As soon as the general finished speaking, others began to express their opinions, and the tent quickly descended into chaos.

On the contrary, Song Yuan remained silent, letting the generals explain themselves.

The scholar beside Song Yuan said, "General, now is an opportunity. There are not many people in Jiannan Circuit who know about military affairs. If the situation continues to deteriorate, they will suffer eventually. We might as well let them off the hook for a while and let them know the consequences. Then when we propose to divide our troops to garrison the area later, they will not object too much."

As soon as this person spoke, everyone else fell silent, turning their eyes to Song Yuan, waiting for him to continue.

Song Yuan looked around before slowly saying, "The army and the righteous path are not in command of each other. How we fight is our business, and it's not for others to interfere. My Wuxin Commandery Guarding the One, and our responsibilities are not light. We cannot act rashly. Let's wait until the situation becomes clearer before discussing sending troops. However, warhorses are of utmost importance and cannot be allowed to scatter. We need to draft a plan to see if we can recapture some."

The generals below immediately understood that Song Yuan intended to observe the situation calmly.

In fact, after being summoned to the camp and learning about the advance of the Marshfolk and the Barbarians, they knew that Song Yuan intended to send troops. However, they had to carefully consider when, how, and where to send troops. After all, any military action would inevitably result in casualties, so they had to think things through carefully and strive for the best possible outcome.

The scholar then said to Song Yuan, "Those officials in Jiannan Circuit probably don't understand the situation yet. They'll only come to us for help after they've suffered enough and realize that the Yongping Army can't be relied on. At that time, we can take the opportunity to bring up some of the things we discussed earlier."

As he was speaking, a whooshing sound suddenly came from outside!

Buzz!

Immediately afterwards, with a "poof," a hole appeared in the top of the tent!

A paper crane flew in, but was immediately scattered by the overwhelming Qi and Blood in the tent, turning into a withered yellow piece of paper that drifted down in front of Song Yuan.

"Hmm?" Song Yuan raised his hand and snatched the paper into his hand. He glanced at it briefly, then his expression changed as he focused on reading it carefully. Finally, he shook his head and laughed, "What scholarly words! Qiu Yan, I really shouldn't have let you go."

The scholar beside him had been watching Song Yuan's expression closely, and when he heard the name "Qiu Yan" mentioned, his expression changed slightly.

Setting down the paper, Song Yuan stood up and said, "Prepare everything. We must send troops immediately! Relieve the calamity in Yuanning Prefecture as soon as possible. Also, send a message by carrier pigeon to the Left Military Governor's Office, saying that the Barbarians monks have seized a batch of warhorses and are heading north to Longyou via the western route."

"This..."

The generals looked at each other, somewhat bewildered. Just moments ago, Song Yuan seemed to be observing the situation calmly, but now he's suddenly deciding to send troops, and even wants to send a message to the Left Military Governor's Office.

"General, the Yongping Army has surely already sent word. If we also send word, it will immediately become a joint statement between the two armies, and the Left Army Commander will probably really send men to intercept the warhorses! Please reconsider..." The scholar stepped forward to advise, but his eyes were glancing at the paper in Song Yuan's hand.

"See for yourself," Song Yuan said, handing over the letter. "Without this letter, the Jiannan Circuit government and the two military garrisons would be completely separate entities. But with this letter, it becomes part of the grand strategy for the entire southwest, leaving no room for us to take advantage of the chaos."

Song Yuan looked regretful, picked up his helmet, and led his generals away from the tent. The scholar, however, looked at the letter and his expression changed repeatedly.

Half an hour later, Wuxin's army, which had been prepared for a long time, set off westward.

At the same time, a loud explosion suddenly erupted outside Jiarong County!

The golden light that had enveloped a mound vanished, and then a huge phantom image of the Kitchen God appeared.

Then, the phantom expanded, releasing a faint aura that enveloped the nearby county town.

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