"...We should take the initiative and send someone to explain our intentions to the town mayor. Tell him we're still adjusting to the Eerie Town and hope to cooperate with him, but we also want to retain our Night Guard contingent. Otherwise, when we return to the Divine Capital, we won't be able to answer to the court or His Majesty. Whatever else this mayor might do, he wouldn't dare openly defy the court..."
"...We should find a way to contact people in the Upper Mountain District and have them put in a good word for us. Ideally, we should find someone to investigate..."
While everyone discussed their options, Li Qingxian sent messages to Gai Fengyou and Meng Huaichuan, asking them to provide lists of the major factions in the Upper Mountain District.
Before long, both sent replies.
Li Qingxian reviewed them one by one with the others.
"The Upper Mountain District is essentially divided into two major factions. The largest is the Town Yamen faction, led by Zhang Wentian and members of the Southern and Northern Xue Families. They direct the development of the entire town and influence everything in it..."
"The second-largest faction is led by an upper-rank Tomb General. He's gathered people from the River Guard Army, the court, the Southern Kingdoms, and those dissatisfied with the mayor. Their numbers are small, but their backgrounds are formidable. With a Blank Edict in their hands as well, the Town Yamen faction keeps putting pressure on them but doesn't want to provoke a conflict. After all, an actual fight would cost them dearly..."
"Wu Jun, you're a Tomb Commandant, and you were supposed to investigate the Tomb General's disappearance in the first place. It looks like we've found him now. Find a way to contact him and see whether