Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

Chapter 37 Inspecting Jiangnan

Zhou Yi was in his early twenties, having already missed the best age to practice martial arts.

He was already surprised enough that he could cultivate internal energy, but the speed at which he cultivated it was even more astonishing.

After Li Yuanfang finished his demonstration on the training ground, Zhou Yi also took the stage to practice his martial arts and try out his new weapon.

Before the new weapon came out, Zhou Yi usually practiced martial arts using Li Yuanfang's old chain knife.

Now, I have mastered the first six moves of the chain knife technique, which are basically pure knife skills.

The last six moves, which cover how to control the blade using a thin iron chain and use the chain knife as a whip, meteor dart, or other weapons, are also basically covered.

It's just not quite there yet.

Even so, his martial arts skills have improved significantly.

In the training ground, Zhou Yi finished his practice and, like Li Yuanfang, looked at the black iron chain knife in his hand with satisfaction.

It's like you've just bought a big new item. For the first few days after buying it, you're very excited and want to play with it all the time.

Di Renjie looked at the two of them with a smile: "Yuanfang, go change your clothes."

The eunuch who was to deliver the imperial decree arrived shortly afterward.

Prepare to give thanks.

"Is this an imperial decree? A thank-you note?" Li Yuanfang looked puzzled, not understanding what was going on.

"The Emperor is about to issue an edict appointing me as the Commissioner of Jiangnan Circuit, ordering me to inspect the various prefectures of Jiangnan Circuit."

At the same time, you will be promoted from the fifth-rank Inspector of the Eagle Guard to the fourth-rank Thousand Ox Guard.

Not only you, but Di Chun was also promoted to the sixth-rank position of Secretary of the Imperial Library.

"You two can accompany me on this inspection tour of Jiangnan," Di Renjie explained.

The Secretary of the Secretariat was a subordinate official of the Secretariat, originally a ninth-rank official.

However, he was different from the others; he belonged to the category of advisors to the prime minister.

Therefore, a higher-ranking position would be equivalent to a sixth-rank official.

Responsible for organizing case files and reviewing historical materials.

This position also allows one to serve alongside the prime minister.

"So that's how it is." Li Yuanfang suddenly realized.

The emperor's messenger will be here soon.

Under Lu Dayou's arrangement, the Di residence was quickly tidied up.

Zhou Yi and Li Yuanfang also went back to their room to change their clothes.

A moment later, inside the main hall: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

The imperial edict was issued, and both Zhou Yi and Li Yuanfang were promoted.

After the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree left, the three of them stood up with smiles on their faces.

"My lord, Jiangnan Road? Jiangnan is a place that nurtures people. It seems that His Majesty intends for you to have a good rest this time." Zhou Yi looked at Di Renjie with a smile.

"Haha, this is perfect for the mission case. You've all worked hard."

Let's go to Jiangnan together, and have some sightseeing while we're on patrol.

After saying this with a smile, Di Renjie turned to Lu Dayou, who was standing to the side, and said, "Dayou, why don't you come along this time too?"

"Huh? Master, I'm going too?" Lu Dayou pointed to himself, unable to believe it.

"Yes, you should hand over the affairs of the manor, and we'll set off tomorrow."

You come along.

"Yes, sir."

The states of Jiangnan Province.

Jiangnan Road is divided into West Road and East Road.

Di Renjie was actually inspecting the eastern prefectures.

This includes most of the areas of the later Jiangsu and Fujian provinces.

Each prefecture is equivalent to a city, and below the prefecture are counties.

In early spring, February, the scenery in Jiangnan is delightful.

Under a clear blue sky, the earth is reviving, a scene of early spring.

The group headed south in mid-February.

It's already March 8th.

For about twenty days, the group traveled around the various prefectures of Jiangnan East Circuit.

In the town of a county in Fuzhou.

A plump old man was accompanied by two strong young men.

After walking for a while, the old man suddenly stopped and said, "Ah, I'm getting old, haha, my legs can't take it after just a few steps."

The old man looked around and smiled, "Di Chun, Yuan Fang, how about we find a shop to get something to eat and rest for a bit?"

"OK."

The two of them naturally had no objections.

The three then stopped at a shop to rest.

"My lord, I am not speaking ill of you."

Instead of riding in the sedan chair of the deposed envoy, you insisted on abandoning the imperial guard.

He took us on a tour of the various prefectures in Jiangnan.

Isn't this just torture?

The Emperor sent you to Jiangnan to recuperate; the inspection was just a side trip.

Why make yourself so tired?

"Can't we still patrol while riding in a sedan chair?"

Li Yuanfang couldn't help but complain a few times.

"Haha." Di Renjie chuckled, letting out two laughs: "Yuanfang, you haven't been following me for very long."

After the mission case concluded, there were hardly any cases for me to handle.

"You're not familiar with my work style? Di Chun knows, let him explain it to you."

"Oh?" Li Yuanfang looked at Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Brother Yuanfang, wasn't the lord just like this back in Youzhou?"

We were originally going to Taiyuan, but when we were only a few dozen miles from the city, we stopped.

Suddenly, he abandoned the imperial envoy's guards and took you and Brother Tiger to Youzhou.

Upon arriving in Youzhou, instead of going to see the governor first, he disguised himself and went on a private visit to Daliushu Village.

The investigation revealed that the man was a fake Fang Qian, and that he was under harsh rule.

What can one discover by swaggering around with an imperial envoy and his guards to inspect the various states?

Before they even reach the various prefectures, the local governors have probably already arranged everything.

If you can't see anything, what if the local governor has any oppressive policies or corrupt practices?

Even adults would have a hard time noticing it.

That would just be going through the motions.

Adults prefer to travel incognito, as this is the best way to discover problems.

Find the problems and punish corrupt officials.

Li Yuanfang nodded: "That explains it. Why did you have Dayou lead the Imperial Envoy's guards to follow you from a distance, and why did you deliberately send documents to various states saying that you would arrive in two days, when in fact you have already arrived?"

"This way, when different places are caught off guard, they can see the true situation."

"By the way, what should we eat for lunch?" Di Renjie sat down and looked at the two people on either side of him.

"I've heard that the sashimi in Fuzhou is pretty good?"

"How about we try it?" Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said.

"Oh? I've also heard that this is a popular dish here."

"In that case, let's give it a try." Di Renjie became interested as well.

He had previously heard officials from here talk about the local specialty fish sashimi.

I just never had the chance before, but now that I'm here, I might as well give it a try.

"Sir, besides sashimi, we also have lychee wine and rice."

I wonder if any of you would be willing to give it a try.

"Then let's all go," Zhou Yi said.

"You bastard, Di Chun!" Di Renjie said sternly upon hearing this.