An Empire Must Be Unified

Jiang Mingyang was delighted to have won Ma Hongjun over.

His only regret was that, when he had obtained the Immortal Herb, he had not expected to have much to do with Ma Hongjun.

He had therefore given the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower straight to Dugu Bo. Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire would probably have to wait until later to be cured completely.

Fortunately, Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire had a touch of yin to it, so Jiang Mingyang's Divine Sword Thunder-Control Art could help.

When Ma Hongjun learned that Jiang Mingyang had come out to gain experience, he immediately said his Evil Fire was not too serious yet and urged Jiang Mingyang to finish the journey he had started.

Moon-Gazing City.

By then, Jiang Mingyang had stopped traveling on foot. He had seen and learned enough along the way.

That day, Jiang Mingyang and Ma Hongjun arrived by horse-drawn carriage at this city on the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire.

Jiang Mingyang had a feeling that the answer he sought was waiting here.

He found Moon-Gazing City more wanton than either the Heaven Dou Empire to its left or the Star Dou Empire to its right.

The special establishments visible everywhere were nothing compared with the truly outrageous sight of a man pinning a woman to the ground right on the street. Scenes like it were everywhere...

Jiang Mingyang was baffled. These were people! People!

People had intelligence. How could they behave like beasts, without even bothering to hide? Had they no basic sense of shame?

After several days of investigating with Ma Hongjun, Jiang Mingyang's expression grew grimmer and grimmer. Moon-Gazing City had no law enforcement squad at all.

In a world with Soul Masters, a law enforcement squad was necessary to maintain any semblance of peace.

Such a squad was somewhat like the urban management officers of Jiang Mingyang's previous life, except its responsibility was keeping the peace, and its powers were absurdly broad. It could judge and convict criminals on its own; only the verdict had to be submitted to the city lord.

Jiang Mingyang sighed. So Moon-Gazing City had no law enforcement squad. No wonder its people were so brazen. Once the rules vanished, the evil in people's hearts broke free.

Moon-Gazing City was practically a criminal's paradise. Jiang Mingyang could not understand it. Did neither the Heaven Dou Empire nor the Star Luo Empire care?

For the first time, Jiang Mingyang exercised his authority as a marquis of the Heaven Dou Empire.

He summoned Moon-Gazing City's lord and demanded to know why this was happening.

Although Jiang Mingyang was a military man, he was not, strictly speaking, the city lord's superior.

Even so, the city lord did not dare defy him. He hurriedly answered, "My lord Loyal Tranquil Marquis, Moon-Gazing City lies on the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. Every five years, its city lord is replaced, with the two empires taking turns appointing someone to the post.

"When we first come to Moon-Gazing City as its lord, we all want to accomplish something. Previous city lords have tried to form law enforcement squads, but the squads must have as many officers from the Star Luo Empire as from the Heaven Dou Empire.

"With some effort, that part can be managed. The officers can always be found.

"The problem is that the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire have different laws.

"Some acts that are crimes in the Star Luo Empire aren't crimes in the Heaven Dou Empire. There's no way to convict the offenders, so arresting them achieves nothing.

"In the end, a law enforcement squad serves little purpose. We might as well do without one."

Jiang Mingyang shot back angrily, "Then why not judge people according to their nationality?

"If they're from the Star Luo Empire, apply Star Luo law.

"If they're from the Heaven Dou Empire, apply Heaven Dou law."

The city lord looked at Jiang Mingyang hesitantly before saying, "Previous city lords have tried that too. But checking everyone's nationality takes an enormous amount of time and effort.

"And some people hold Heaven Dou nationality but have lived in the Star Luo Empire since childhood. Sentences passed on them lead to further disputes.

"The greatest problem is that Moon-Gazing City is a border crossing. Most people are only passing through. When someone commits a crime and leaves, no one knows who they are. There's simply no one to punish!"

The city lord then added cautiously, "Being appointed lord of Moon-Gazing City isn't much of a prize to begin with. If war breaks out, it becomes dangerous.

"The imperial families of both empires know this, so they place few restrictions on corruption. The chance to line one's pockets is the post's only benefit."

Jiang Mingyang's face turned ashen. After thanking the city lord, he turned and left.

He fell silent. If things were as the city lord had said, no punitive judgment could ever be carried out. Was this what a border city was like?

Jiang Mingyang had much on his mind. He was distracted even while eating with Ma Hongjun, who finally asked with concern, "Brother Jiang, is something troubling you?"

Jiang Mingyang glanced at Ma Hongjun and told him what puzzled him and what the city lord had said.

Ma Hongjun frowned. He thought for a long while without coming up with anything useful, then said, "Brother Jiang, there's... there's no way to judge anyone! The laws aren't the same, and the country isn't one country!"

Jiang Mingyang froze. "Hongjun, say that last part again."

Ma Hongjun blinked, then looked at him warily. "The laws aren't the same, and the country isn't one country. What's wrong, Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Mingyang's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Everyone born into the world brings something different to the continent. What will I bring to Douluo Continent?

An empire... an empire... one empire. Only if the continent is united can it prosper and its people find happiness.

Couldn't I... couldn't I do it? Were kings, marquises, generals, and ministers born to their stations?

The Heaven Dou Empire wasn't always an empire. Its founders won that land for themselves!

Jiang Mingyang suddenly understood. He burst out laughing. A seed called ambition... had ripened...

Having found his answer, Jiang Mingyang set off for the Imperial Capital with Ma Hongjun early the next morning.

Mingyang first served Heaven Dou, then rebelled, slew its ruler, and founded an empire.

The four sons of Tai Shi served as historians.

Mingyang ordered Tai Shi Bo to record: Heaven Dou yielded its throne to Mingyang, and the empire was founded.

Tai Shi Bo refused. He wrote: Mingyang slew the ruler, and the empire was founded.

Mingyang flew into a rage and killed him.

He ordered Tai Shi Zhong, the younger brother, to write the history. Tai Shi Zhong also refused and wrote: Mingyang slew the ruler and founded an empire; seeking to falsify history, he killed the historian Tai Shi Bo.

Mingyang saw it, flew into a rage, and killed him. He said, "Who else dares defy me and write falsehoods?"

A man stood and said, "I, the third brother, Tai Shi Shu."

Mingyang killed him.

He said to Tai Shi Ji, "Your elder brothers are all dead. Will you record history as I command?"

On hearing this, Tai Shi Ji wrote: Mingyang slew the ruler and founded an empire; seeking to falsify history, he killed the four historian sons of Tai Shi.

Mingyang raged and killed him. After that, he never again attempted to falsify history in this way.

The deeds of the four sons of Tai Shi deserved praise and admiration. They could be said to rival the sun and moon in brilliance.

Records of the Grand Historian