Chapter 376: I Have a Way to Prevent Your Transfer
Liang Shixian led Feng Jun away. A secluded path wound beside the colossal statue of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, lined with dense woods on both sides. Following the curving flagstone path through the trees, they walked in a wide arc, eventually finding themselves behind the imposing statue.
Here, a small pond shimmered. Within its calm waters, swarms of tadpoles darted and glided. A small stone table and four matching chairs rested by the bank.
They settled onto the stone seats.
Their retainers fanned out, creating a wide perimeter to ensure privacy.
Liang Shixian scanned their surroundings. "No need to worry about eavesdroppers here," he said. "The colossal statue of the Heavenly Lord stands beside us, and no one would dare to plot mischief in its divine presence. Feng, my friend, speak your mind freely."
Feng Jun glanced at the Heavenly Lord’s statue, its back rising like a small mountain, and couldn't help but gasp in silent awe. He gathered his thoughts, then lowered his voice. "Brother Liang, we both studied at the Donglin Academy. I trust your character implicitly, which is why I dare to ask. If I overstep, please forgive me..."
Liang Shixian pressed, "What exactly is on your mind?"
Feng Jun replied, "A few days ago, Bai Yuzhu, a formidable general serving under Wang Jiayin, led an army of over ten thousand rebels to attack Qichuan Ferry in my Heyang County. Naturally, I was unable to hold the line. Then, to my surprise, Bai Yuan, the master of Bai Family Fortress from your esteemed county, arrived with his militia as reinforcements..."
Liang Shixian nodded. "Ah, Bai Yuan. I know him. A true gentleman, accomplished in both scholarship and martial arts. I entrusted him with command of all the Chengcheng County militia. What transpired with him at Qichuan Ferry?"
Li Daoxuan, overhearing this from his distant vantage point, found himself thoroughly amused, a faint smile playing on his lips. *So, this is your true purpose, eh? Well, I’ve long known the Gao Family Village Militia would eventually draw the attention of the authorities. Let's see how this unfolds.*
Liang Shixian blinked, a surprised "Oh?" escaping his lips.
Noticing Liang Shixian’s peculiar expression, clearly indicating his ignorance, Feng Jun echoed his surprise. "Brother Liang, you were unaware?"
Liang Shixian shook his head. "I was aware they possessed some armor, and a few flintlock rifles, yes. But five hundred flintlocks and over a thousand sets of armor? This is the first I'm hearing of it."
As he spoke, a thought suddenly struck Liang Shixian. He quickly asked, "Are these men from Gao Family Village?"
Feng Jun confirmed, "Yes, they claim to be the Gao Family Village Militia!"
Liang Shixian’s eyes widened as a vague realization dawned on him. "The Li family... funded by the Li family. No... not the Li family... funded by the Heavenly Lord."
He extended a finger, gesturing towards the towering statue beside them. "They are the Heavenly Lord’s own troops."
"What?" Feng Jun was utterly bewildered. "The Heavenly Lord’s troops? Isn’t the Heavenly Lord a divine being? How could a deity command an army?"
Liang Shixian explained, "While the Heavenly Lord is indeed a divine being, he is one who manifests his power, performing divine miracles. He directly intervenes to reward the virtuous and punish the wicked, often bestowing grain and various sacred artifacts upon mortals..."
Feng Jun suddenly recalled: He once traveled to Xi'an to present the head of Fan Shan Yao. Passing through Gao Family Village on that journey, he’d ridden on a peculiar small train. Could that contraption have been one of these "sacred artifacts"?
"Is the Heavenly Lord... truly divine?"
"Nonsense!" Liang Shixian retorted. "Is he a fake god, then? Think about it yourself: besides a true deity, who else could empower a tiny hamlet like Gao Family Village to produce five hundred flintlock rifles and over a thousand sets of armor?"
Feng Jun considered this meticulously. He couldn't deny it.
How much wealth could a mere village possess?
Forget five hundred flintlock rifles; even five would be an impossible feat.
For a moment, Feng Jun remained half-convinced. He had witnessed the Heavenly Lord "summon" the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas to bring rain, and such a divine miracle was easy enough to accept. Yet, while acknowledging a deity was one thing, rationalizing five hundred flintlock rifles and over a thousand sets of armor was an entirely different challenge.
Feng Jun lowered his voice. "Brother Liang, even if these items are of divine origin, their purpose fundamentally changes when amassed in such quantities. The Li family of Gao Family Village, sitting on such an arsenal of firearms and armor, could become even more formidable than that bandit chief Wang Jiayin. Wouldn’t they then possess the means to incite rebellion and chaos? If they were to emulate the rebels and rise up, what then are we to do?"
Liang Shixian scoffed. "Rebellion? This... Brother Feng, aren't you perhaps overthinking things? What deity would rebel against mere mortals? Would a majestic god plot a rebellion just to become an Emperor? While we refer to our ruler as 'Emperor,' he is, in truth, also called the 'Son of Heaven.' If a deity were to become the Son of Heaven, wouldn't that effectively demote him to the rank of a child?"
Feng Jun fell silent, pondering.
Indeed, the logic seemed perfectly sound.
Feng Jun felt a renewed wave of confusion.
Frowning, Feng Jun pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice once more. "Brother Liang, while it’s true a deity wouldn't compete for the imperial throne, if these divinely bestowed items fall into mortal hands, it’s difficult to guarantee that those mortals won't harbor ulterior motives. What if Bai Yuan, Instructor He, Instructor Zao, or any other individual within Gao Family Village were to develop malicious intent and seize these celestial weapons to ignite a rebellion? What course of action should we pursue then?"
Liang Shixian replied, "Humans act, and Heaven watches. There are deities three feet above every head. Items bestowed by the divine are naturally guarded by the divine. Should any mortal harbor ill intentions, the deities will assuredly deliver their punishment."
Feng Jun countered, "That's not always true! Even deities occasionally doze. Even the Grand Supreme Elder Lord’s azure ox once escaped to the mortal realm to wreak havoc upon humanity."
Liang Shixian paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Oh?"
He had a point!
In fact, it wasn't just Liang Shixian who found logic in Feng Jun’s argument; Li Daoxuan, too, conceded its merit.
As his Field of View Expansion continued to widen, he genuinely struggled to manage the ever-growing number of villages and towns under his purview. Currently, merely overseeing Gao Family Village, Chengcheng County, and Heyang County — three substantial areas — left him weary from constantly switching his focus. As for places like Fengyuan Town, Bai Family Fortress, or Quan'gou Village, how long had it been since he last checked on them?
Moreover, he had recently been contemplating the need for someone to help him "enforce celestial law" in the mortal realm. Feng Jun’s timely concern now spurred him to take the matter seriously.
Feng Jun continued, "We may lack the power to oversee deities, but we absolutely must ensure proper governance of the mortals under their divine command. Magistrate Liang, Gao Family Village falls within the jurisdiction of your Chengcheng County. I cannot overstep my authority to intervene in this matter; it falls to you to devise a solution."
Liang Shixian offered an awkward smile. "Ah, Feng, I'm afraid I may no longer be in a position to manage this."
Feng Jun asked, surprised, "Why not?"
Liang Shixian let out a long, weary sigh. "My three-year term is complete."
"Ah?" A flicker of understanding crossed Feng Jun’s face. "Brother Liang, you’ve truly been here for three years already? Alas... I’ve only served for a little over a year myself..."
Liang Shixian explained, "Just moments ago, I was burning incense and ringing the bell, reporting this very matter to Dao Xuan Tian Zun. I am soon to travel to the capital, and after submitting my report on duties, I will await a new assignment."
Feng Jun noticed the hint of pain and regret in Liang Shixian's expression, realizing he was reluctant to leave. With a quick glance around, he lowered his voice. "Brother Liang," he began, "I believe I have a way to prevent your transfer."
Liang Shixian looked utterly astonished. "Oh? How could that be possible? An official's term is three years, and after three years, a transfer is absolutely mandatory. What method could possibly circumvent that?"
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