Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 570 My Blade is Very Sharp

The carriage was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and Young Master Tao's gaze fell on the map of Donghan County unfolded before him.

He put away his folding fan, a hint of emotion on his face.

"The officialdom of Donghan County is complicated and complex. High-ranking officials are corrupt and abuse their power for personal gain. In particular, due to the chaos in the eastern border, there is a lack of low-ranking officials, and the government is unable to control the local area."

Young Master Tao lightly tapped his folding fan, the fan ribs making a crisp sound as they collided with his palm: "Forty percent of the officials of the sixth rank and above in the entire Donghan Prefecture are vacant, and the Yunling County government even has its yamen runners acting as county magistrates."

“Last month, some people beat the drum to appeal for justice, but the yamen runners demanded 500 copper coins before they would hold court.”

Young Master Tao came to Donghan County ahead of time to gather information from all sides and pave the way for Zhang Yuan's arrival in Donghan County.

“Nowadays, Donghan County is teeming with bandits and outlaws. The area is out of control, and many low-level martial artists have become outlaws. Among them, quite a few have been bribed by the three kingdoms of Qi, Wei, and Zhao.”

Young Master Tao shook his head and spoke softly.

Inside the carriage, Feng Cheng, who was in charge of the secret agents of the Wuwei Yamen, Lu Changwu, a scion of a prominent family in Donghan County, and Cao Jiada, the magistrate of Yushui County who was trembling with fear and unease, all nodded.

Using the tip of his fan to lift the edge of the map, Young Master Tao traced the densely marked northern foothills with his fingertips: "What's more troublesome are these red circles—"

“Thirty-eight private mines and fifty-four medicinal herb fields,” Zhang Yuan said casually, his gaze sweeping over the area.

Lu Changwu stared at the mottled cinnabar markings on the map, which marked the tungsten-iron mine controlled by the Lu family.

Upon seeing the spot marked by Young Master Tao, he trembled violently, a chill running down his spine.

No wonder Young Master Tao invited him and those noble young masters to welcome Marquis Qingyang in advance!

It's probably not just because Lu Changwu has a past relationship with the Marquis of Qingyang, but also because of the plans on this map!

Young Master Tao looked at Lu Changwu: "The Lu family monopolizes the tungsten-iron mine, the Zhou family controls 70% of the snow ginseng cultivation, and even the common people have to pay 30% of their harvest when they go into the mountains to collect herbs."

A chill ran through his eyes: "Does Young Master Lu know how many people starved to death in the seven villages on the northern slopes this spring?"

That's what makes the Black Ice Platform so terrifying!
Lu Changwu himself didn't know how many people in the seven villages on the northern slope had starved to death, but Hei Bingtai did.

Zhang Yuan glanced at Lu Changwu, who was standing there in a daze, and then looked back at the map in front of him.

Feng Cheng unfolded a scroll, which contained a secret report from the secret guards.

"Lei Wanjiao, the bandit leader of Black Wind Stronghold, is ostensibly a bandit from the State of Qi, but in reality, he is a military officer in the Eastern Garrison of the State of Wei."

"The twenty-seven carts of grain they looted eventually ended up in a secret warehouse set up by the Wei army in Yunwu Mountain."

Feng Cheng pointed to a spot on the map in front of him, where twelve bandit strongholds formed a chain surrounding the county town.

"The secret orders from Wei that the secret guards intercepted at Broken Soul Gorge were to instigate half of the border troops in Donghan County to defect within three months."

Feng Cheng took out a secret letter, which revealed a blood-red wolf head totem when unfolded, the very mark of the Wei Kingdom's Heavenly Wolf Guard.

Cao Jiada, standing to the side, was taken aback to hear such important and confidential matters, and felt a chill run down his spine.

Is this something a mere seventh-rank county magistrate like him should be listening to?

Young Master Tao pointed his fingertip at the Jiuchuan River on the map in front of him: "My lord, please take a look. Acting Prefect Liu Peiyuan and Prefectural Assistant Zhao Defang are in charge of military and political affairs respectively. However, Liu Peiyuan has allowed his nephew to smuggle military equipment. Last month, eighteen ships of fine iron were transported to Qi State through the Jiuchuan Sluice Gate."

Feng Cheng immediately presented the ledger: "These are secret documents about the canal transport intercepted by the Black Ice Guard. Of the six officials Zhao Defang held in the River Conservancy Office, five of them bought their positions."

Inside the carriage, Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes, his aura growing increasingly heavy.

Even without being deliberately provoked, his current high position and profound cultivation were enough to make the blood and qi of the people in the carriage turbulent.

"Is that all?" Zhang Yuan asked again.

Lu Changwu pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The massacre of the Xueyun Sect half a month ago appeared to be a martial arts feud, but in reality, it was because they discovered the connection between the Zhou family and the Wei Kingdom's Sword Pavilion..."

He suddenly fell silent.

As a scion of a prominent family in Donghan County, he didn't know whether he should speak up or not.

"Go on," Zhang Yuan said, lightly tapping the table in front of him with his finger, causing ripples to spread in the tea.

Sweat beaded on Lu Changwu's forehead as he lowered his head and spoke: "The Seven Profound Sword Pavilion of Wei Kingdom controls 70% of the sword sects in Donghan County through the Qingyang Chamber of Commerce." "Last month, under the guise of observing the sword manual, they actually transported three hundred assassins to Bailuzhou to massacre the Xueyun Sect."

“My Lu family’s iron ore caravan was completely wiped out because they stumbled upon their movements, and even the mine tunnels were destroyed.”

The martial arts world of Donghan County has been so heavily infiltrated that even these aristocratic families are powerless to resist it.

Even though the mine was destroyed, the Lu family chose to keep quiet and didn't even dare to mention it.

Feng Cheng said in a low voice, "The martial arts world and merchants of the Three Kingdoms have infiltrated the region. Many martial arts sects in Donghan County are actually affiliated with sects from the Three Kingdoms period, especially the swordsmanship tradition of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, which accounts for more than 70% of the sword sects in Donghan County."

The martial arts world, the government.

Zhang Yuan's eyes revealed a deep depth.

If things weren't truly chaotic, the emperor wouldn't have sent him.

As the deputy head of the Zhen Tian Si and the warlord in charge of the Wu Yu Si, Zhang Qingyang also served as the garrison commander of a prefecture. The emperor intended to use his power and ruthlessness to reorganize Dong Han Prefecture.

"Young Master Tao, do you have any plans?" Zhang Yuan looked up at Young Master Tao with a smile on his face.

As the person behind Zhang Yuan's schemes, Young Master Tao has become accustomed to planning everything in advance and controlling useful information over the years.

From Luyang Prefecture to the Imperial City, and then to the Eastern Border, Zhang Yuan was always accompanied by the shadow of Young Master Tao.

Young Master Tao nodded, looking at the map before him: "There are three urgent tasks. First, we must take over the defense of the prefecture as soon as possible. Second, we must purge the corrupt officials. Third..."

He paused deliberately and looked at Lu Changwu.

Lu Changwu, a young master from a prominent family, immediately understood and quickly unfastened the jade pendant from his waist: "The Lu family is willing to offer up the tungsten-iron mine as an example, only asking that the Marquis give us a chance to redeem ourselves through meritorious service."

Inside the carriage, Zhang Yuan took the jade pendant and placed it on the table.

His finger traced the crisscrossing vermilion lines on the map: "Order Wenliu to return to the prefectural capital ahead of schedule and seal off the prefectural city."

"Let Chen Wu lead the newly formed Xuanjia Guard to seal off the Nine Rivers and Eighteen Gates."

He turned to look at Lu Changwu, whose face was deathly pale: "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), I want to see the Lu family's grain carts drive into the seven villages on the northern slope."

A clap of thunder came just in time outside the car window, and the clanging of the sword sheaths of the five hundred black riders shattered the rain.

Lu Changwu quickly bowed and said, "Your Excellency, rest assured, my Lu family will handle this matter properly."

He understood that if it weren't for his past relationship with the Marquis of Qingyang, and the fact that the Marquis of Qingyang needed a link to the powerful families of Donghan County, his Lu family would probably be doomed this time.

"My lord, there are people blocking the road ahead, kneeling and crying out for justice."

The carriage shuddered slightly, slowing its pace, and Chen Wu's voice came through.

“Magistrate Cao.” Zhang Yuan’s voice rang out from inside the carriage.

Pointing out the car window, Zhang Yuan asked, "Are those people kneeling over there citizens of your Yushui County?"

Cao Jiada turned to look out the car window and saw a group of figures kneeling on the road hundreds of feet away.

The rain was falling, making the figures somewhat blurry, but it was clear that they were kowtowing and praying.

Faintly, shouts could be heard.

"This humble official, this humble official will do it right away—"

Before Cao Jiada could finish speaking, Zhang Yuan said calmly, "Bring them to see me."

"I came to Donghan County precisely to uphold justice for them."

The frost-covered longsword lay horizontally on the small table. Zhang Yuan gently stroked the dark patterns on it with his palm, his eyes revealing a chilling aura.

"My blade is very sharp."

(End of this chapter)