Chapter 326: Lawless and Godless
Liang Shixian’s gaze immediately fell upon the flintlock rifle clutched in Bai Yuan’s hand. It was a firearm with an exceptionally long barrel, and a single glance at its intricate mechanism revealed its complexity.
With Liang Shixian’s limited scientific knowledge, he couldn’t even begin to understand it.
He pointed to the dead bird on the ground: “Was this shot by Master Bai?”
Bai Yuan beamed with pride at the mention of it, his smile returning. “Hahaha, indeed, it was I who shot it! From a hundred paces away, I struck the flying bird with a single shot. Hahahaha, in the gentleman’s Six Arts, for the ‘Archery’ discipline, there is no one in this entire realm who can compare to me! Hahahahaha.”
Something feels off, Liang Shixian thought to himself. Does the ‘Archery’ in the gentleman’s Six Arts simply refer to shooting anything with any object?
He needed to give it some serious thought.
The profoundly learned Liang Shixian immediately activated his internal knowledge retrieval system. Ancient texts, historical idioms, and old definitions flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. Then, with a sudden "ding," his thoughts settled on a bamboo scroll.
“The Rites of Zhou: Official of Earth, Minister of Instruction, Protector of the Clan” stated that “Archery” was divided into five techniques: White Arrow, Linked Arrows, Pointed Arrow, Weighted Arrow, and Well Diagram.
This didn’t just concern the technicalities of bow and arrow usage; it also included strict requirements for archery etiquette.
Just as he was about to voice his thoughts, Bai Yuan raised the flintlock rifle again. He performed a series of practiced reloading movements, then aimed the gun at another bird in the distant sky.
“Boom!”
A gunshot rang out, and the bird plummeted from the sky once more.
Bai Yuan cheered, picked up the dead bird that had earlier knocked off Liang Shixian’s hat, and thrust it into Liang Shixian’s hand. “This freshly shot bird is for esteemed Magistrate Liang! I’ll go fetch the next one.”
With that, he dashed off. His white robes billowed behind him, fluttering gracefully as he vanished from sight in an instant.
Clutching a dead bird in his left hand, Liang Shixian extended his right arm forward. “Hey! Don’t run! I need to discuss serious matters with you. Where are you going?”
He quickly hitched up the hem of his official robes and broke into a run, chasing after Bai Yuan. To his surprise, he was quite fast, his footsteps thudding as he pursued Bai Yuan.
Zhao Sheng (Dian Dengzi) was approaching from the opposite direction, waving a sheet of paper in his hand as he walked.
“You’ve arrived at a perfect time! The refugees from Qingjian County wish to apply to move their household registration to Chengcheng County... For you, this should be as easy as...”
Whoosh!
Liang Shixian flashed past Zhao Sheng, disappearing into the distance in an instant.
Zhao Sheng called out, “Hey? Esteemed Magistrate, wait for me! I have something important to discuss with you!”
He too took off in pursuit.
They ran for over two hundred paces, Bai Yuan picking up the dead bird and roaring with laughter.
Liang Shixian finally caught up, grabbing Bai Yuan’s arm. “Hah! I’m exhausted! Stop running! I need to talk to you about something important.”
Zhao Sheng panted as he arrived: “Hah... Esteemed... Magistrate...”
The three scholars gathered together, speaking over each other, a cacophony of voices. Eventually, they managed to explain all three of their concerns.
“...I... have something... important...”
Zhao Sheng’s request was indeed a minor issue, not difficult at all.
While the Ming Dynasty had stringent household registration laws for its citizens, the government had also conducted numerous large-scale migrations throughout history, providing a precedent for such undertakings. Mass adjustments to the household registrations of "immigrants" were not a challenge; at least, not for Liang Shixian.
However, the matter Liang Shixian brought up was rather thorny.
With five supreme commanders heading to the capital to defend the emperor, the imperial military strength in the northwestern region had significantly dwindled, inevitably leading to an increase in rebel activity.
While rebels further from Chengcheng County were less pressing, Fan Shan Yao was in Heyang County, dangerously close. This was a major problem. Furthermore, Fan Shan Yao now held an official imperial title, having been pacified and appointed as the “Heyang Garrison Commander.” Dealing with him couldn’t be done openly.
Bai Yuan asked, “Esteemed Magistrate, what is your view on the matter of Fan Shan Yao?”
Liang Shixian sighed, “After much thought, I see no other good solution. Fan Shan Yao is the ‘Heyang Garrison Commander,’ and I am merely the Chengcheng County Magistrate. I have no authority over Heyang’s affairs. If Fan Shan Yao causes trouble within Heyang County, I cannot intervene. I can only ensure strong defenses along the border between our two counties. If he ventures into our Chengcheng County, then I could dispatch Inspector Fang Wushang’s militia to engage him, or even kill him, with an ‘execute first, report later’ approach.”
Liang Shixian sighed again. “That’s all we can do.”
Bai Yuan said, “So, Esteemed Magistrate, your intention is for me to lead the militia to guard the border between the two counties and simply wait for him?”
Bai Yuan shook his head. “That’s too... sigh...”
Liang Shixian also shook his head. “Indeed, it’s too... sigh...”
As the two men lamented, Li Daoxuan suddenly had an idea. He spoke, “Yiye, go and speak with them.” Gao Yiye immediately rushed over to their side. “The Heavenly Lord has given an order!”
Bai Yuan and Liang Shixian instantly perked up.
Gao Yiye pointed at the rifled gun in Bai Yuan’s hand: “Master Bai, the Heavenly Lord has already bestowed upon you a divine artifact. This item can take an enemy’s life from two or three hundred paces away. Why do you not utilize it to execute Heaven’s justice?”
Bai Yuan suddenly snapped to attention. “Oh! You’re right!”
Liang Shixian, however, was still bewildered. “What does that mean?”
Bai Yuan chuckled, “Esteemed Magistrate, Fan Shan Yao is currently an imperial official. We can’t openly go to Heyang County to deal with him, right?”
Liang Shixian affirmed, “That’s right!”
Bai Yuan continued, “Then we deal with him secretly! We set up this divine firearm in the woods a few hundred paces away from him, ‘bang!’ one shot and he’s down. Then we immediately slip away into the ravines. Who would ever know it was us?”
Liang Shixian gasped, “Hey, hey, hey! This... this... such an act... it’s practically assassination! Isn’t that far too lawless and godless?”
Bai Yuan retorted, “I can accept ‘lawless,’ but you must not utter those two words, ‘godless’! This is a decree bestowed by the Heavenly Lord, meaning it is Heaven’s will. How can you say it is godless?”
Liang Shixian exclaimed, “!”
Bai Yuan pressed on, “When Fan Shan Yao was a bandit, he coerced innocent people and committed evil deeds. Now that he’s an imperial official, he remains unchanged, still plundering the common folk, truly birds of a feather with that rogue guerrilla Li Yingru. Killing such a person is executing Heaven’s justice. The Heavenly Lord himself has issued this decree, so what reason do you have to hesitate, Esteemed Magistrate?”
Liang Shixian considered it seriously. “Indeed.”
Bai Yuan added, “Esteemed Magistrate, you cannot leave Chengcheng County; those are the rules of your position as an imperial magistrate. But I, Bai Yuan, am not bound by such rules, hehehe. For this matter, just await my good news.”
After a moment of reflection, Liang Shixian also understood.
Which was superior: Heaven’s Path or the law?
It was a rhetorical question, wasn’t it?
Of course, Heaven’s Path was superior!
Even the Emperor was a rank below Heaven, having the title “Son of Heaven.” He would have to call the Heavenly Lord “father.”
Following the Heavenly Lord’s words was undoubtedly the correct path.
“Someone! Bring paper and brush! I shall write a letter to the Heyang County Magistrate, requesting his cooperation.”
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