Joint Report to the Throne

"That monster tore off the roof of the Ever-Provision Treasury and swept away every last tael of silver stored inside."

Registrar Tian looked at the moon in the sky.

Right now, only that bright full moon could improve his mood a little.

"The demon wind fled southeastward. Most of the stored silver and copper coins scattered throughout the city."

"Magistrate Jiang ordered the three inspectors to muster their men and search the entire city. Whatever lost treasury silver they could recover, they were to recover."

Looking at Old Tian's liver-colored, miserable face,

Su Che understood what all their elaborate fuss was truly for.

In the end, it was still a matter of making up losses within the walls from beyond the walls.

There was no longer any silver in the county treasury, so they only needed to find a way to squeeze money out of the common people.

And it was fortunate that Magistrate Jiang had such resolve.

Both the magistrate and the registrar were natives of the area. Their hearts were certainly black, but they still had to mind their table manners while eating.

Watching the three inspectors lead a crowd of yamen runners and patrolmen, all behaving like starving tigers pouncing on prey, Su Che more or less understood what was happening.

Old Jiang had made the bold decision to tear all pretenses apart and stop caring about his table manners.

Yet Registrar Tian was still here, hemming and hawing, unable to make up his mind, still concerned with saving face.

No wonder one had become magistrate, while the other could only remain a registrar.

"Magistrate Jiang's order is reckless. Failing to guard against demons and losing the treasury reserves is already negligence of duty. Now he wishes to disturb the common folk as well—he is plainly compounding one mistake with another. How can there be such a thing? Registrar Tian, you should advise the magistrate."

Su Che furrowed his brow and spoke up righteously.

"County Commandant, mind your words, mind your words." Registrar Tian hurriedly tried to stop County Commandant Su as he looked at the people around them.

Black, glistening eyes could not bear the sight of white, gleaming silver.

The three inspectors, the yamen runners, and the patrolmen were all holding back a wicked fire, waiting to use this chance to make a killing.

Doing less of the sort of thing that offended everyone was Registrar Tian's usual way of conducting himself.

"Mind what words? All of you, take off your armor and put down your weapons. Mobilizing the court's blades without written orders from a superior is a grave crime."

Su Che glared fiercely as he addressed the three inspectors.

The three exchanged glances, but none of them said a word.

"By the laws and statutes, the magistrate and registrar indeed cannot mobilize troops without authorization. But County Commandant, you can."

Registrar Tian looked at Su Che.

He was conflicted as well. On one hand, he did not wish to offend the men who were releasing fierce tigers from their cages to disrupt local peace; on the other, he did not wish to offend the magistrate, the inspectors, and all those fellow officials.

The magistrate and registrar were officials rooted in the local soil. Their positions would not change easily.

Everyone would be working together for a long time to come, and their sons and grandsons would be working together for a long time to come as well.

"That is why this commandant has already issued his order. Everyone, put down your weapons."

Inspector Liu looked at his silent colleagues on either side and weighed the gains and losses.

Old Tian had the temperament of a good man. This Su fellow might be promoted after a few months, while Magistrate Jiang would remain for a long time—and later, he would still be Magistrate Jiang or Registrar Jiang. Liu himself had three sons, and at least one of them would need to become an inspector.

Inspector Liu swiftly calculated the pros and cons, then bravely stepped forward.

"County Commandant, since this is such a serious matter, should we invite Magistrate Jiang to take charge of the situation?"

"Oh, I understand. Then go invite Magistrate Jiang."

Su Che nodded.

He was backing down just like that? Registrar Tian was briefly bewildered. This rich young master was actually such a soft persimmon?

"Indeed, now everything makes sense. Since you intend to rebel, then step over my corpse first."

Su Che took a step forward, directly drew Inspector Liu's saber from its sheath, and held it across his neck.

What kind of crappy saber did this Old Liu have? It was fucking rusted.

"The Duling Su Clan has served Great Liang loyally for generations. Back at Fangtou, you still did not spill every drop of blood from loyal ministers and righteous men like us. And now you collude with monsters—what the hell are you supposed to be?"

Young Master Su the Third stared at the rust marks on Inspector Liu's saber and recited each word through gritted teeth.

"Come on, then. See whether my blood is blue-green."

What in the world was this supposed to be?

Not only Registrar Tian and Inspector Liu, but everyone around them was at a complete loss.

"County Commandant, you mustn't, you mustn't."

"Lord Su, it is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

"Please keep your hand steady, sir. Old Liu really would never..."

Su Che exerted a slight force with his hand and directly sliced through the oily skin on Inspector Liu's neck.

You wanted to curry favor with Old Jiang?

Fine. Building bridges, paving roads, and lending others a helping hand were the good deeds he loved most in this life.

He would let him become Old Jiang's dead partisan and give him a bright future.

"Su Che, what are you doing? Holding a blade to a fellow official's neck—what nerve."

Magistrate Jiang flicked his sleeve and emerged from the county office.

His grizzled beard trembled with his heavy breathing, and his eyes were already filled with bloodshot veins.

"When the county office was attacked, this county's commandant was nowhere to be seen. Yet when everyone wishes to pursue the monster, he appears instead to obstruct us. I dare ask: what exactly does County Commandant Su mean by this?"

"The moment I arrived in Shanyin County, I felt that something was wrong everywhere."

"The county magistrate has not come to assume his post, and here you are colluding with demons and monsters, allowing them to run rampant with arrogant impunity."

"Heh heh, why is Magistrate Jiang asking me? I would rather ask you—after the grand affair you carried out at Withered Forest Chan Temple, are you truly not afraid of having nine clans implicated?"

Was this not simply slapping on a label?

He was familiar with that.

In principle, whichever hat was bigger was the one you slapped on.

"Su, what do you mean, nine clans implicated?"

"What it means, Magistrate Jiang knows in his heart."

"Do not speak in vague half-words. Do not spit blood at people."

"Does Magistrate Jiang truly not know? Tonight, a host of ghosts gathered at Withered Forest Chan Temple. Brilliant light shone from the tower, and it wrote the four monstrously treasonous words: Heaven destroys Decayed Liang. This commandant has only just returned from battling the demon horde, and I find you here mobilizing troops. What are you trying to do?"

Heaven destroys Decayed Liang?

Magistrate Jiang naturally knew that what the court could not bear to hear most now were the words "Decayed Liang."

Crippled? Was Great Liang merely clinging to half its realm?

You were the crippled one. The court had merely suffered a temporary setback; one day, it would sweep clean the rivers and lands and restore the realm.

"This matter is grave. County Commandant Su, do not speak rashly."

Not only Magistrate Jiang—even Registrar Tian's expression changed.

Children's rhymes, strange tales, hearsay and rumors—the court paid extraordinary attention to such things, guarding against the prophecy and occult learning hidden within them that could stir up the world and people's hearts.

For Old Jiang and Old Tian, it would be best if there were no words at all at Withered Forest Chan Temple. Even if there were, then there were not.

And if there absolutely had to be words, they could never concern the court or the fate of the realm.

Once the court took notice, the pile of shit the two of them had sitting in Shanyin County could no longer be covered up.

That was also why Su Che wanted to make such a huge commotion.

The changes at Withered Forest Chan Temple, the disturbance at Mystic Mountain—if he was going to act, he had to churn up an entire pond of spring water and drag everyone into it. Only then could he seek victory amid chaos.

"Most of my family died in battle at Fangtou. When it comes to me, I absolutely cannot betray Great Liang either. Old Jiang, if you want to join the monsters in rebellion, then step over my corpse first. Throughout my life, I have looked up without shame before Heaven. I can never betray His Majesty..."

Old Jiang felt sick ten thousand times over.

At a time like this, he was still singing lofty slogans here.

"Go search. Find every last bit of silver from the treasury for me."

He directly gave the order to those below.

"Don't move. Otherwise, he dies first, and then you."

Magistrate Jiang looked at Su Che.

Fuck, last year I gave a little less of the customary silver to those above. I thought it was nothing, but this was where they had been waiting to make sport of me, sending down such a blockhead.

Magistrate Jiang let out a long breath, adjusted his mood, and forced a smile onto his flushed face.

"Then what exactly is County Commandant Su's intention?"

"The weapons are returned to the arsenal. The three of us jointly submit an official report to the court. We must also send written notice to the prefectural office and the Mounted Embroidered Guards."

Su Che said.

Magistrate Jiang glanced at Registrar Tian. This old friend and old rival looked as though anyone could flatten or knead him at will, making Old Jiang's anger rise all the more.

The money in the Ever-Provision Treasury does not bear the surname Jiang. What the fuck does its loss have to do with me? If you want to make a fuss, then make one. Let us see who cannot get off the stage afterward.

Magistrate Jiang suppressed his disgust. "Fine. If you say we submit a report, then we submit a report. Later, at the prefectural office, we will settle this between ourselves."

Thanks to Wind-Rolled Red Banner for the recommendation, and thanks to Red Halberd for recommending the book. Thanks to Lord Du, representative of serious literature, for the monthly ticket. Charge, charge, charge.

Hearts joined as one, all were old friends. The Four Friends of Thunder, united in baldness.

Thanks to Solo Has No Halloween, How Boring, Transcendents Have No Home, Kingly Way Still Has Luo Shui Weiran, as well as Reader 13534 and Reader 50007 for their monthly tickets.

Many thanks, everyone.