Chapter 753: Let Shi Jian Help You
Wang Shunxing set down the official document and let out a long sigh. "This deficiency in taxes and poor performance, I have no objection to. But 'spouting nonsense and deluding the Emperor'—where do these accusations come from? When have I ever spoken nonsense or deceived His Majesty?"
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa exchanged glances, equally puzzled.
Wang Shunxing shook his head. "No matter, no matter! In truth, whether I did it or not, it no longer matters. Since the higher-ups have decided to dismiss me, there's no room for debate. I can only step down and go home to live off my past achievements."
At this, he suddenly chuckled. "It's quite good, actually! I won't have to use the term 'this official' anymore. Referring to myself as 'this venerable one,' wouldn't that have a certain gravitas? Hahahaha."
Wu Shen grew anxious. "Sir, don't just leave! That crucial transfer order... for He Renlong to return..."
Wang Shunxing sighed. "It's useless! Even if I complete and dispatch this order now, by the time it reaches He Renlong, the news of my dismissal will have long preceded it. Will he still obey?"
Everyone fell silent.
His words held truth! In the cutthroat world of officialdom, when a wall collapses, everyone rushes to push it down. While you're in office, thousands curry favor, but once you're dismissed, once you're gone, your words are just so much hot air. Wang Shunxing writing any transfer order now would be utterly useless; no department would cooperate. They would only resume normal operations after the new governor took office.
Wu Shen grew frantic, grabbing the messenger's shoulder and shaking him vigorously. "Who is the new governor? Has he taken office yet? Where is he now?"
Wu Shen gasped!
"This is bad!"
Seeing their awkward expressions, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but sigh. What to do now? Did he have to send the Gao Family Village Militia again? But... Gao Family Village was too far from that four-province border region. If he sent the militia so far, he'd need a pretext, a reason.
The three of them emerged from the governor's office, strolling aimlessly down the street.
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa were dispirited, unwilling to speak for the moment.
Li Daoxuan, meanwhile, was pondering what reason he could use to deploy the militia.
Just then, a man walked toward them and called out to Wu Shen and Shi Kefa. "Master Wu, Master Shi, what a coincidence, meeting you here."
Li Daoxuan focused his gaze. Oh? He actually recognized the man—Brigadier General Luo Xi.
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa immediately recognized him too, and asked with surprise, "General Luo, weren't you suppressing bandits in Yansui? Why are you in Xi'an?"
At this, Luo Xi's expression turned sorrowful. "Alas! I've been dismissed, and I'm going back to my old home in Sanyang County to fend for myself. I was passing through Xi'an, looking for something to eat, when I happened upon you two sirs."
Shi Kefa was bewildered. "I heard you were suppressing bandits in Yansui, successively eliminating Xue Hongqi, Yizuo Cheng, Yizi Wang, and then recently bringing down Wang Chenggong. You've achieved merits, so why were you dismissed?"
Luo Xi grimaced. "I don't know... Though these achievements were actually made by General Shi Jian, and I can't really claim credit, I haven't committed any major errors either. My memorials didn't falsely report military situations; most were reported truthfully. But the Ministry of War said I was 'spouting nonsense and deluding the Emperor' and dismissed me."
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa exchanged a look, both seeing a strange glint in the other's eyes.
Luo Xi sighed again. "Ah, well, going back home is fine too. Then I won't have to worry or constantly dream of fighting bandits."
He was still speaking when Li Daoxuan, who had been listening silently, suddenly interjected. "General Luo, you just mentioned that your old home is in Sanyang County?"
Luo Xi replied, "Yes, Sanyang County. And you are... Huh? You... I'm sure I've never met you, but I don't know why, your face seems familiar somehow."
Li Daoxuan chuckled inwardly, not answering his question, and said with a sly smile, "General Luo, if I recall correctly, Sanyang County is located at the junction of four provinces, isn't it?"
"Yes!" Luo Xi confirmed. "My old home is right in the mountains at the four-province border, a no-man's-land. Every three to five years, someone sets up as a bandit on the mountainside near my house. It's truly infuriating and comical."
Li Daoxuan's smile widened. "What a coincidence, then. You've barely gone home, and someone will immediately set up as a bandit on the mountain next to your house."
Luo Xi found this amusing. "Who would be so blind? If I hadn't gone back, my old man at home might still fear those bandits. But with me back, commanding my 150 household guards to defend the fortress, any bandit will be ground to dust."
Li Daoxuan applauded. "Excellent, excellent! General Luo is indeed mighty. Then the important task of eliminating the Chuang Wang falls to you, General Luo. We await your triumph in grinding the Chuang Wang to dust."
Luo Xi's entire body stiffened. "Wait... who did you just say?"
Li Daoxuan replied calmly, "The Chuang Wang!"
Luo Xi started to panic. "The alias is the same?"
Li Daoxuan clarified, "No, it's not. It's *that* most famous Chuang Wang."
Luo Xi's face instantly darkened. He turned to look at Wu Shen and Shi Kefa.
Wu Shen nodded.
Shi Kefa confirmed, "The Chuang Wang, leading tens of thousands of rebels, is advancing towards the four-province border."
"Pfft!" Luo Xi nearly choked on his own blood, crying out in alarm. "I'm doomed! I need to go home, grab my old man, and run! I can't chat anymore with you sirs..."
He turned to flee.
Li Daoxuan reached out and clasped his shoulder.
Luo Xi tried to break free, but as he exerted force, he realized something was wrong. The hand gripping his shoulder felt like iron, clamping him tightly. He couldn't struggle free. He twisted his head to shout, "Why are you holding me? I need to go home! Quickly, my old man is in danger!"
Li Daoxuan replied, "Fleeing won't solve the problem!"
Luo Xi countered, "It's better than not fleeing at all!"
Li Daoxuan delivered a dire warning. "If you go home now and just run away with your old man, your family fortress will be destroyed by the rebels, and your family's land will be completely lost. With no official position and your wealth gone, your Luo family will collapse and never recover, with no hope of ever rising again."
Luo Xi froze.
"As things stand, there's only one way," Li Daoxuan stated. "Write a letter to your good friend, General Shi Jian, and ask him to send troops to help."
Luo Xi objected. "No, that won't work. Without a Ministry of War transfer order, how would he dare act recklessly?"
Li Daoxuan chided him, "Are you foolish? He doesn't have to mobilize the imperial soldiers; he can just send his own household guards to you. Does mobilizing a few household guards require an order from the Ministry of War? What kind of rule is that?"
Luo Xi's eyes brightened, but then immediately dimmed. "Shi Jian... Shi Jian might not be willing to help me. Our friendship isn't that deep..."
Li Daoxuan smiled. "He will help you. His uncle, Shi Laosi, published books through my bookstore. If I say he'll help you, he will."
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