Yefutidaolu

Chapter 392 Questions
Is Li Zoufang a good person?
Without a doubt, he was an absolutely upright and good person, even a role model.

I can vouch for this with my expertise.

This Minister of Revenue genuinely wanted to maintain the existence of the Divine Dynasty, viewing it as the cornerstone of civilization and order.

He implemented benevolent governance not for personal gain, but out of a genuine desire for the people to live in peace and prosperity and for the nation to flourish. He held immense power over the empire's finances, handling vast sums of money daily, yet he almost never sought personal enrichment from it, living a life of relative poverty. His integrity commands utmost respect.

But at the same time……

He genuinely believed that boat trackers should remain boat trackers generation after generation, and nobles should rightfully remain nobles forever. In his belief in the "unchanging principles of all ages," the idea that heaven and earth give birth to people, each in their proper place, is the "ultimate principle of the Great Way" written by sages, the "fundamental norms" that maintain the stability of the nation. Any transgression or acting arbitrarily is a disruption of this perfect order, bringing chaos and disaster.

He believed that there were ways to rise in rank, but they had to be officially recognized and strictly controlled by the Divine Dynasty.

Some joined the army, risking their lives for military merit; others studied diligently, passing the imperial examinations to excel; still others were renowned for their virtue and were recommended for officialdom through the "filial piety and incorruptibility" system. Apart from these, any attempt to independently gather power and disrupt the existing order was not permitted; it was considered "chaos" and had to be corrected.

In his view, the ancient sages had already clearly explained the ultimate principles of governing the world, and later generations only need to follow them. Stability is above all else; order is more important than life.

There are eternal principles in the world that remain unchanged for all ages. Since the ancient sages have already established the ultimate principles of the Great Way and were able to explain the causes of order and chaos, all we need to do is follow them.

However, it is precisely this persistence of "good people" that forms a solid and unshakable barrier for people like Li Jun who are trying to struggle out of the quagmire and want to forge their own path to survival.

Because Li Zoufang's actions were not motivated by personal motives, but by a kind of "justice" that he believed to be more noble and righteous, his obstruction was more justified and harder to resist.

If Gao Jian were to choose to completely break with Li Zoufang now in order to protect Li Jun, the consequences would be extremely serious.

His many actions in the capital, including information gathering, resource allocation, and even a degree of political asylum, all relied heavily on Li Zoufang's channels and influence. Breaking with this Minister of Revenue, who wielded real power and represented a strong set of orthodox ideas, meant that Gao Jian would instantly find himself in a desperate situation, besieged on all sides—before him were the greedy and covetous aristocratic families of the Divine Dynasty, and behind him was the enormous force represented by Li Zoufang, which was trying to bring everything back to "normal."

Faced with Li Jun's worries, Gao Jian simply smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "It's not that serious. Protecting you doesn't require turning against Minister Li. Just continue doing what you believe is right and continue managing the outer city of Cangzhou. Leave the rest of the troubles to me."

"What brilliant plan does the master have?" Li Jun leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with anticipation. He knew that a wise man's methods were often unexpected yet effective in resolving matters.

“No need for any ingenious schemes.” Gao Jian picked up his slightly chilled tea, took a sip, and said, “It’s very simple, just become an official in the court, isn’t that enough?”

"Enter the court as an official?" Li Jun was stunned, his face full of astonishment. "Is it that simple? Even if I am willing to bow my head and beg for an official position, the power of the boatmen's gang will still exist, and the control we have over the canal and the hearts of the people will not disappear. Minister Li... can he really be at ease because of this? Will he no longer regard us as a 'chaotic phenomenon' that needs to be eliminated?"

His suspicions are reasonable. Any normal politician would not assume the threat is gone simply because the leader of the opposing camp has taken on an official position.

Gao Jian shook his head and explained, "He won't be completely at ease, but he will stop targeting you. At least, the overt suppression from his faction will stop."

Li Jun was even more astonished, and even found it somewhat absurd: "This person... is he really so pedantic?"

In his mind, Li Zoufang was shrewd and resourceful, far from being a rigid and inflexible scholar. To think that he could resolve hostility with just an official title was child's play.

“It’s not pedantry,” Gao Jian said seriously. “It’s rules. Minister Li is by no means a pedantic person. He is well-versed in political maneuvering, but he believes even more in and upholds a set of ‘rules’ that he considers the true principles of heaven and earth. As long as you follow these rules, take the legitimate path, and enter the court system, then in his eyes, you are ‘one of his own,’ or at least someone who can be communicated with and restrained within the system. As for what happens after you enter the system, the rules, checks and balances, and… things that put his mind at ease will naturally come into play.”

He paused, looking at Li Jun: "How the specific situation on the ground in Cangzhou will change is a matter for later. Leave it to me to deal with him. But the premise is that you have to get that ticket first."

"After entering the court as an official, there will be something to put his mind at ease... In other words, once he becomes an official, there will be constraints?" Li Jun appeared very cautious; he didn't want to put himself in new shackles after just escaping from the fire pit.

“Of course there are rules, you have to follow them,” Gao Jian said calmly. “When you petitioned the capital to submit to the emperor and pay taxes, didn’t you immediately feel that the direct pressure from the court was much less? It’s the same for officials. There are rules of the game in officialdom. As long as you show that you are willing to abide by these rules, in Minister Li’s view, there is a basis for dialogue and control. He is upholding the rules themselves, not trying to eliminate any particular person. If you understand the rules, he generally won’t overstep the rules to deliberately target you.”

Li Jun frowned in thought, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously: "I see... But this is probably just a delaying tactic, isn't it? I don't think these so-called 'rules' can bind us forever. One day we will cross their bottom line."

"That's enough!" Gao Jian laughed. "A delaying tactic is still a tactic. Do you really want to raise the flag of rebellion right now and turn against the entire Divine Dynasty? First, obtain official recognition, gain a foothold, and buy time and space for development. That's the most important thing right now."

Li Jun fell silent.

He carefully considered the insightful words. Indeed, a direct confrontation with the court forces represented by Li Zoufang was by no means a wise move at present.

If a temporary "submission" can buy a respite, it would undoubtedly be the best option at present.

“I understand.” After a long silence, Li Jun finally nodded. “Then let’s do as you say, sir. I will submit a petition as soon as possible, requesting the court to grant me an official position as a sign of my submission. However…” He changed the subject, his face showing difficulty. “I am really unfamiliar with the many rules and intricacies of officialdom, and I’m afraid I will need your guidance and help.”

“That’s natural.” Gao Jian stood up. “I will give you a list of things to pay attention to and some basic principles of official conduct. But before that, I need to go and lobby the powerful families in the inner city. You have suddenly gained power and are now asking for an official position, so they will definitely react strongly. I need to persuade them first, or at least try to get them to agree to let you stay in Cangzhou as an official, so that you can continue to run your business here.”

"Alright! Thank you for your trouble, boss!" Li Jun also stood up and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

Gao Jian waved his hand, said no more, turned and strode away. His figure quickly disappeared outside the courtyard gate.

Li Jun stood alone in the courtyard, gazing in the direction Gao Jian had left, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He pondered for a moment, then walked to his desk, spread out the paper, and ground the ink, but hesitated to put pen to paper.

Let's see... to what extent Gao Jian can win him over, and to what extent he can "persuade" those aristocratic families. There's no need to rush to write this memorial requesting an official position.

Gao Jian left Li Jun's courtyard without pausing, heading straight for the most central area of ​​Cangzhou's inner city. His target was clear—the Shui family, currently the most prominent family in Cangzhou.

The Shui family's manor is situated on a tranquil lakeside, secluded from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The closer one gets, the more distinct the atmosphere becomes.

The towering gray-white walls blocked the view, and the huge gatehouse was ancient and oppressive. The guards at the gate had sharp eyes and a deep, imposing aura. They were clearly all cultivators, but they were as silent as stone statues. When they saw Gao Jian, they only gave him a cold look and did not stop or question him—as if they had already been instructed to do so.

Stepping into the Shui Family Manor, a heavy, oppressive feeling washes over you, making you unconsciously hold your breath. The scenery here is not unattractive; pavilions, waterside terraces, and ancient trees are arranged with great order, even bordering on elegant. But everything is shrouded in an absolute "order."

All the servants and maids were dressed in uniform, their steps light and silent, their heads bowed, their eyes fixed only on the ground three feet below them. When they encountered Gao Jian, a stranger, they would simply step aside slightly, never giving him a second glance, and there was no whispering among them.

They were like a group of puppets programmed with precision, performing their tasks silently and efficiently. Gardeners pruning the flowers and trees, janitors sweeping the yard, guards patrolling... each person was like a cog in a precision instrument, running on their own track, with no unnecessary communication between them.

Throughout the entire estate, there was no sound of laughter or loud conversation. Only the rustling of leaves in the wind, the babbling of water flowing over the artificial hills, and the pervasive, suffocating silence. Beneath the simple architectural style lay an extreme suppression and control over all vibrant life.

Gao Jian's expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly. The Shui family was truly as stifling and terrifying as before; it must have been so hard for Shui Cangcang to grow up in such a place.

I imagine he'll feel quite relaxed once he goes to the capital.

Continue forward.

He announced his name and purpose, requesting an audience with the head of the Shui family. He was received by an elderly man who appeared to be a steward, equally expressionless, with a flat, emotionless voice: "I'm sorry, Mr. Gao. The head of the family is not currently in the manor."

"Oh? Where did you go?" Takami asked.

"The patriarch, along with several elders of the clan and other patriarchs from Cangzhou, have all set off for the ancient battlefield," the steward replied matter-of-factly.

"Ancient battlefield?" Gao Jian frowned slightly. "They've all gone?"

"Yes. There have been frequent unusual movements on the ancient battlefield recently, which are of great importance. The leaders of all the relevant parties have gone to investigate and oversee the situation," the steward added.

Ancient battlefield... Gao Jian's mind raced.

The ancient battlefield was where he took his entrance exam for the Imperial Academy. Normally, various aristocratic families would also be stationed there, but for almost all the heads of the aristocratic families in Cangzhou to go there at the same time was no ordinary event.

"Tsk." Gao Jian clicked his tongue lightly. He originally thought that it was just a matter of chatting with the Shui family head and putting some pressure on him, but it seems that it is not that simple.

Do we have to make another trip to the ancient battlefield?
"I understand, thank you for letting me know." Gao Jian nodded to the butler, said no more, and turned to leave the oppressive manor.

Standing outside the Shui family manor, Gao Jian looked towards the direction outside Cangzhou City, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of space, landing on that ancient battlefield full of unknowns and dangers.

I originally just wanted to save some trouble... but now it seems I can't save any trouble at all.

Let's go.

Without hesitation, Gao Jian moved swiftly towards the post station outside the city, preparing to set off immediately for the ancient battlefield.

A day later, Gao Jian's figure appeared in a desolate, lifeless place, completely different from the lush and vibrant water town of Cangzhou.

The distance of thousands of miles is not an insurmountable barrier for him now.

Before us lies the renowned yet awe-inspiring ancient battlefield.

The sky here is always a dusky yellow, as if frozen at a certain sunset.

The air was thick with the smell of rust and decay, and a bone-chilling cold. The earth was cracked, the vegetation sparse and twisted, taking on an unhealthy gray-black hue.

Gao Jian was no stranger to this place. He still held the nominal position of deputy general of the Demon Suppression Division, and guarding and clearing the ancient battlefield to curb the ever-growing undead and resentment within it was one of the core responsibilities of the Demon Suppression Division. He had trained here in the past and was well aware of the dangers and rules of this place.

He traversed the outer perimeter of twisted, withered trees and areas littered with broken blades and armor with practiced ease, his sharp gaze sweeping across his surroundings. The wandering undead and aggregates of resentment that ordinary Demon Suppression Division soldiers would have to deal with cautiously in formation posed almost no threat to him, a seventh-realm warrior.

The surging, fiery energy emanated outwards, like a miniature sun. Any evil spirits that approached it would vanish and retreat as if ice and snow were being ignited by fire, emitting a silent shriek.

However, Gao Jian was also pondering as he continued to lose.

Even someone as prominent as the patriarch of the Shui family has come in person, so the heads of other aristocratic families must also be gathered here...

"For these old guys to put aside their internal strife in Cangzhou and all flock to this godforsaken place..." Gao Jian stroked his chin thoughtfully, "The undead and resentment riots of the ancient battlefield itself, while troublesome, shouldn't warrant such a massive mobilization. The Demon Suppression Division plus the local garrison should be able to handle it. Unless..."

Is there something wrong with Huang Quan?
(End of this chapter)