Deciding Victory

"Fang Yun is in a Military Way Duel!"

The news spread through the Ten Kingdoms as though it had grown wings.

In northern Jing Kingdom, Zhang Poyue had his feet propped on his desk, his head pillowed on his arms as he lay snoring in a comfortable great chair upholstered with Demon Marquis bear hide. He suddenly opened his eyes and gripped his Official Seal.

"Damn it, if I'd known, I wouldn't be roaming the grasslands right now! Far from the Temple of Sages, just watching a Military Way Duel costs at least a bit of Literary Ink! That bastard Fang Yun makes me spend Literary Ink even when I'm raising hawks and walking birds for him." Zhang Poyue cursed as he held his Official Seal and entered the Literary Ranking.

In Ji County, County Magistrate Duan was hearing a case in the main hall.

Though a county was small, its miscellaneous affairs were countless. A county magistrate was responsible for education, judgments, military affairs, public order, and nearly everything else. Only at the prefectural level would the ruler of a region have his power divided.

County Magistrate Duan frowned at the two old men in the courtroom. The two had been bickering endlessly over an Armored Ox. Armored Oxen were the main force of plowing; injuring one was not a major case, but it was still a serious one. Any carelessness could harm the common people.

Suddenly, his Official Seal stirred. County Magistrate Duan checked it and exclaimed in delight, "This official has urgent business today. Court is adjourned!" He slapped the Court-Shocking Gavel, turned, and left. Finding a secluded place, he connected to the Temple of Sages and the Literary Ranking to watch the Military Way Duel.

Across the Ten Kingdoms, scholars who specialized in or had a