Chapter 83: Pinyin
Cheng Xu was utterly frantic, pacing in agitated circles around the county magistrate's hall.
The spectral image of his great-grandmother—her voice, her smiling face—flickered before him: one moment, beckoning from the doorway; the next, from the window; then, from behind a screen; and finally, settled in the magistrate's chair, still beckoning. Soon, a dozen great-grandmothers, holding hands, were circling and soaring around Cheng Xu...
Great-grandmothers, everywhere! An overwhelming torrent of them!
"My dear great-grandson," a voice crooned, "Great-Grandmother loved you best of all. Come down and join me."
At that very moment, a man burst through the main entrance, slicing straight through the phantom great-grandmother haunting the doorway, and jumped before Cheng Xu. It was the Deputy Inspector, Cheng Xu's loyal henchman, his face beaming with joy. "Boss, boss, good news!"
Cheng Xu's voice was strained. "What possible good news could there be now? Nothing can save me. A dozen great-grandmothers are already on their way to collect me."
The Deputy Inspector spoke rapidly. "Boss, reports from the mountain hunters! Wang Er's rebel forces have been routed. Zheng Yanfu and Zhong Guangdao are dead, and Wang Er himself is gravely wounded."
Cheng Xu's spirit instantly revived. The dozen great-grandmothers who had been swirling around him were blasted away, dissipating into the distance. "What? What happened? Tell me, quickly!"
The Deputy Inspector quickly recounted, "The night before last, Wang Er led his rebels in a surprise attack on Gao Family Village. But Gao Family Village was prepared! Under the command of Master Bai Yuan, the militia instructor from Bai Family Fortress, the Gao Family Village Militia ambushed Wang Er's forces. They killed Zheng Yanfu and Zhong Guangdao and gravely wounded Wang Er. Now, Wang Er has barely a hundred men left, hiding deep in the mountains, too terrified to cause any more trouble. The nearby rebel factions, hearing this news, have all lowered their banners and are shaking in their boots."
In truth, after Wang Er's departure, he, fearing he might implicate the residents of Gao Family Village, had deliberately dispatched his subordinates to spread false reports. These claimed that his attack on Gao Family Village had been repelled, ensuring no one would suspect any collusion between him and the villagers.
It also salvaged the reputations of Zheng Yanfu and Zhong Guangdao, preventing the 'heroes of the greenwood' from ever learning that these two had betrayed their leader. This way, they wouldn't be branded with a rotten reputation for treachery and disloyalty, even in death.
He had protected everyone, yet deliberately placed himself in mortal danger. Now, the whole world knew he was gravely wounded, with only about a hundred men remaining by his side.
When a tiger descends from the mountains into the plains, even dogs can mock it.
How could Cheng Xu possibly pass up such an opportunity? He instantly erupted in joyous laughter, hands on his hips. "Hahaha, hahaha! Excellent! A heaven-sent chance! Quickly, gather the troops! We'll immediately pursue and crush Wang Er's rebels. Before the Donglin Party magistrate arrives—we have three days!—we'll take him down in one decisive strike!"
"Once Wang Er is dealt with, the other rebels who rose with him will naturally disperse. Then, I'll write a memorial to the throne, blaming this entire Wang Er rebellion on that dead scoundrel Zhang Yaocai. I, Cheng Xu, have merely been doing my utmost to clean up Zhang Yaocai's monumental mess, crushing all the lesser bandits. If I execute this perfectly, I might just carve a path out of this deadly predicament!"
The great-grandmother in the doorway vanished. The benevolent smile of the great-grandmother in the window blurred, then faded. And the dozen great-grandmothers who had been swirling around him now dissolved completely, transforming into pure light...
Did you believe in light?
To the strains of a majestic and stirring accompaniment, Ninth-rank military inspector Cheng Xu was fully revived, bursting with vigor. He had transformed from a cowering wretch into a hero—and he was ready to strike!
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In the gentle light of early morning, Gao Family Village hummed with its usual harmony.
The labor reform prisoners, released by the Heavenly Lord's colossal hand, were now busy preparing their own breakfast. Every day of labor reform here began with a hearty meal—a truth so outlandish, who would ever believe it?
Law-abiding folks in other villages would be weeping with envy.
Within the "School Well," a group of children had just completed their morning broadcast calisthenics and were now getting ready for lessons.
Teacher Wang stood, holding the classic "Hundred Family Surnames," ready to instruct the children in the rhythmic chant of "Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Zhou, Wu, Zheng, Wang." But before he could even start, Gao Yiye suddenly rose to her feet. "Teacher," she announced, "the Heavenly Lord has a divine decree."
Teacher Wang immediately adopted a solemn stance. Having resided in Gao Family Village for some time, he had personally witnessed the Heavenly Lord's divine miracles on numerous occasions. He was now a devout follower of the Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect. Yet, adhering to the ancient teaching, "Confucius did not speak of strange happenings, feats of strength, disorders, or spiritual beings," he kept his faith deep in his heart, refraining from uttering a single word aloud.
"What divine decree does the Heavenly Lord bestow?" Teacher Wang asked, his voice low. "I am all ears, respectfully waiting."
Gao Yiye relayed, "The Heavenly Lord declares he possesses celestial methods capable of helping children master reading and writing with unprecedented speed, ensuring flawless pronunciation of every character."
"Heavenly methods!" Teacher Wang exclaimed, his face alight with sudden joy upon hearing her words.
"Don't just teach the children, I want to learn too!" he thought, barely suppressing his eagerness.
Gao Yiye continued, "The Heavenly Lord decrees that this method must first be taught to Teacher Wang, who will then impart it to the children. This, he says, is the wisest course of action."
Teacher Wang was so overcome with joy that he began scratching his ears and cheeks, nearly leaping about like a monkey. "Excellent! Absolutely excellent!" he sputtered. "I... *cough*... we scholars are pledged to carry on the lost wisdom of the ancient sages. This celestial method from the Heavenly Lord, I vow to dedicate my heart and soul to its propagation!"
Gao Yiye nodded. "Then listen carefully, Teacher Wang. This method is called: Pinyin."
Teacher Wang sighed blissfully. "Just hearing the name," he murmured, "I feel a profound sense of celestial enlightenment!"
......
Li Daoxuan observed Gao Yiye and Teacher Wang, now thoroughly engrossed in the study of Pinyin. A faint, knowing smile played on his lips. "Ancient scholars like Teacher Wang," he mused, "were often a challenge to sway. Attempting to instill new ideas or knowledge in them was akin to pouring water on a duck's back—utterly impervious. Yet, present it as 'heavenly methods,' a divine ruse, and these ancients were remarkably easy to win over."
"It was a rather vexing paradox," he considered. "These groundbreaking ideas, these innovative teaching methods, could only gain acceptance if cloaked in the guise of divine pretense."
He was still pondering this irony when a sudden cacophony of tiny, distant voices reached him. He instinctively turned his head to peer into the diorama.
People were approaching the village!
And a familiar face at that: Inspector Cheng Xu.
The last time Cheng Xu visited, Gao Family Village had been defended by vibrant, multi-colored Lego Prison walls. The population was small, and the villagers timid. Li Daoxuan, wishing to avoid any unnecessary complications, had simply employed what appeared to be a "demonic spell" to frighten Cheng Xu into retreat.
But this time, Cheng Xu's arrival found a Gao Family Village that was completely transformed. There was no longer any need to resort to tricks to frighten him away. Li Daoxuan settled in to observe how San Shier would handle the situation.
Li Daoxuan settled back, switching into full spectator mode.
From a distance, Cheng Xu spotted Gao Family Village ahead, and a familiar flicker of panic stirred within him. His last visit here had almost ended with him being devoured by ghosts, and the terror had kept him from approaching within a single step for ages. But it was still early morning now; surely, no ghost would dare stir up trouble in broad daylight?
Mustering every ounce of courage, he led his contingent of over a hundred soldiers right up to the gates of Gao Family Fortress.
He gazed upwards, startled. It had changed *again*. Last time, the walls had been a ridiculous two-zhang tall, a riot of disrespectful colors. Now, they'd become a formidable three-zhang tall fortress, projecting an air of stern respectability.
Stone and mud, yet perfectly constructed. This place truly emanated an unsettling strangeness.
Suddenly, San Shier's face appeared on the fortress wall, beaming and waving at Cheng Xu below. "Ah, General Cheng! What a pleasant surprise! It's been too long, and I've missed you dearly. Please wait just a moment, I'll be right out to greet you personally."
As San Shier descended from the wall, he turned to a nearby servant and whispered urgently, "Immediately notify all villagers: hide their armor!"
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