A Political Genius

"Captain Li, there was no need to do this for me..." Han Anbo felt as if something had lodged in his throat, leaving him unable to speak.

Li Qingxian smiled. "Brother Han, I was using what you taught me. Look, I started out all smiles and harmony when I spoke to him. Staying silent along the way was me compromising with him. In the end, I drew my blade with the Ministry of Revenue's rules and Brother Jing's authority."

Han Anbo's gratitude was like a castle on the beach—one wave rolled in and smashed it to pieces. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, "But I didn't tell you to use it all up in one breath that same day!"

Yu Ping was also dumbstruck. He muttered, "A political genius!"

"What happened?" Luo Jing asked curiously.

Han Anbo explained the whole story of Wei Yong mixing sand into the works, then repeated the advice he had given Li Qingxian.

Luo Jing, too, helplessly raised a thumb. "A political genius!"

Li Qingxian smiled. "I'll take that as praise."

Luo Jing shook his head. "Anyway, I can't handle this. I'll report it to Lord Zhou when I get back and let him deal with the headache."

"This won't cause you trouble, will it?" Li Qingxian asked.

"What trouble can a petty clerk who hasn't even entered the ranks cause? By the time Wei Yong's people find him, the evil arts will already have entered his brain, and nothing can save him. Besides, do you think a man like Wei Yong would save this piece of sand?" Luo Jing said.

"Then thank you, Brother Jing. Oh, right, business. Lend me five hundred taels of gold, plus two hundred taels of silver." Li Qingxian spoke with a perfectly serious expression.

Luo Jing leaned back slightly and asked, "What do you need that much gold for? Are you sure a mere Eighth Rank official like me can produce it?"

"I owe you a life." Li Qingxian smiled.

Luo Jing's eyes widened. Indescribable delight appeared on his face as he leaned forward. "You can use Fate Arts now?"

Li Qingxian nodded.

"Five thousand two hundred taels of silver for one life? Worth it! No need to pay it back—consider it my purchase!" After speaking, Luo Jing's face turned awkward. He gave a light cough and asked, "You weren't lying to me, were you?"

"Otherwise, why would I ask for five hundred taels of gold instead of five thousand taels of silver?" Li Qingxian countered.

Luo Jing slapped his forehead and suddenly understood. "I was being foolish. You're using gold to forge a Fate Artifact, and the two hundred taels are for other Fate Materials."

Li Qingxian nodded.

"Are you short on money?" Luo Jing asked.

Li Qingxian had nearly said, Isn't that obvious? But he quickly realized that these officials never said what they meant outright. So he said, "After my father died, the Li Family in the capital and my father's friends did send some silver. Part of it was entrusted to my aunt and uncle, while the rest was used to buy farmland and estates, with the Li Family elders in the capital helping look after them. They were afraid I would spend recklessly, so they only give me two taels as a monthly allowance, planning to hand over the rest once I come of age. However, the cash they can access does not exceed three thousand taels."

"No wonder. Then I'll give you another hundred taels for your daily expenses. Your status is different now. Two taels a month is far too little," Luo Jing said.

"Once the strong liquor goes on sale, I won't lack that little money," Li Qingxian said.

Luo Jing glanced at Han Anbo and Yu Ping. "There's been a small snag on the Ministry of Works side. Lord Zhou didn't tell you?"

"What happened?" Li Qingxian asked.

"The Ten Yama Kings of the Netherworld are fighting over something. Puppet Cultivators are attached to the various Yama Kings' halls. When those above are fighting, those below naturally cannot stay peaceful. From what I heard, an Artisan Administrator will come in the next few days, bringing people from the Imperial Treasury to hear you explain it in detail before making a decision. But you should think this through. We don't understand this distillation or alcohol you speak of, but those Puppet Cultivators understand them very well," Luo Jing said.

"Don't worry. The more they understand, the better. But what interests me is this: how did the Netherworld come to take an interest in human craftsmen?" Li Qingxian asked curiously.

Luo Jing laughed. "Puppet artifacts have unique structures and require a great many craftsmen. Besides, the Netherworld is full of skeletons. How to make better use of those bony frames also requires craftsmen. And those puppets have no brains—how can they compare to living people? So after the Netherworld's Return of the Dead, the Yama Kings of each hall vigorously developed craftsmen who cultivated puppetry. Before His Majesty ascended the throne, more than half the lower- and middle-ranking officials in the Ministry of Works were Puppet Cultivators. Letting the Netherworld take over the Ministry of Works was simply following the current."

"The craftsmen didn't resent it?" Li Qingxian asked with great interest.

"At first, they were unwilling. Later, they found that cultivating puppetry while alive had little effect on them. Before dying, they could even convert into puppet bodies, retaining all their memories. It was practically equivalent to living several hundred more years, so their misgivings faded. Later, many elderly people wanted to become Puppet Cultivators, but conversion consumed treasures of the Netherworld. This led the Netherworld to strictly control the number of Puppet Cultivators, recruiting only craftsmen with real skills."

"I see. Then set a time, and I'll explain everything in detail to the Ministry of Works officials," Li Qingxian said.

"Set a time? We can't set one. If it were only the Ministry of Works, that would be easy enough, but the Imperial Treasury may send a Junior Supervisor. That's someone who serves His Majesty, a truly busy man. We'll be lucky to get word half a day in advance." Luo Jing studied Li Qingxian closely.

Li Qingxian smiled. "No matter. True gold fears no fire."

"Good, then. Oh, right, gold is different from silver. I'll need a few days to prepare it. You really know how to give me difficult problems," Luo Jing said.

"I'll wait for your good news."

The two talked until noon, then had lunch. After tasting the Ministry of Revenue's yellow chives, Li Qingxian finally left.

After they walked out of Ministry of Revenue Street, Yu Ping rubbed his stomach and said quietly, "Too many yellow chives are hard to digest."

"If they're hard to digest, why did you eat so much?"

"But the Ministry of Revenue makes them so well. They're better than the famous restaurants," Yu Ping said.

Li Qingxian recalled Trapped Pig Breaking the Pen and could not help laughing. "Other than you, no one comes to the Ministry of Revenue just to eat."

After staying silent for a long while, Han Anbo said, "Captain Li, there really was no need to do this for me. Those of us destined never to enter the ranks—what month goes by without being tormented several times?"

"It wasn't entirely for you. It was also for myself. If this grain of sand isn't picked out, the next thing will be pebbles smashing into my head, and after that, White Solitary Mountain pressing down from above. It will never end."

"I understand that too, but weren't you too hasty?" Han Anbo still felt it was not entirely sound.

Li Qingxian nodded. "Brother Han is right. This matter cannot be rushed. It can't be finished in one breath."

Han Anbo sighed in relief. "You do listen to advice."

Li Qingxian continued, "So I need to take a second breath."

Han Anbo and Yu Ping stared wide-eyed, completely baffled.

Li Qingxian smiled. "You taught me this: once the blade is drawn, blood must be seen. Last time, they failed to harm me. This time, they mixed sand into things again. That means they still haven't given up. There is no sense in guarding against thieves for a thousand days, so this time, I should strike first."

Han Anbo felt a mouthful of old blood lodge in his lungs. He could not speak. He absolutely could not speak, or he might very well spray it all over the sky.

Yu Ping sighed. "After entering the ranks, you've become more reckless than before."

"Don't worry, you two. This isn't recklessness. This is a contest of brains and Fate Arts. I'm going to let them know the consequences of offending a Fate Arts Master. But I'll need your help."

"You're using Fate Arts? Go ahead, tell us." Yu Ping perked up.

Li Qingxian said, "I want detailed information on Wei Yong and Tao Zhi. At a suitable opportunity, I'll deduce their Fate Molds and Fortune, then use Fate Arts to deal with them. I had originally planned to endure for a few more days, but Hong Cheng's affair taught me that if I move one step too slowly, I may get bitten one more time."

"Fine, I'll investigate them for you! That's exactly what we Night Guards do." Yu Ping grew excited.