Longevity Martial Arts: Obtain Golden Affixes at the Start

Two documents, two versions, two stances.

After Qiu Shan finished reading, he placed the document on the table, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"My lord," a maid whispered from outside the door, "Prefect Geng requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Geng Xiangming strode into the study and immediately bowed: "Your Excellency, Mo Wentianlangzi's ambitions are outrageous. He has arbitrarily raised troops to annex Lingchuan County and murdered the imperial official Gongsun Qi. Such treasonous acts must be severely punished, lest everyone follow suit and our prefecture never have peace again!"

"So, what do you think should be done to punish them severely?"

Geng Xiangming raised his head: "Your subordinate is willing to lead troops to punish Mo Wentian, reclaim Lingchuan County, and behead Mo Wentian as a warning to others!"

Qiu Shanjin remained silent, watching him quietly. Geng Xiangming felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze and slowly lowered his head.

"Prefect Geng, aren't some things a bit more obvious?"

Geng Xiangming shuddered, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

"My lord, your subordinate..."

"You don't need to explain. I don't care what grudges you have or who is right or wrong. Zhaohua Prefecture cannot be in chaos."

While Mo Wentian's annexation of Lingchuan County was certainly wrong, it's also a fact that Gongsun Qi initiated the attack. In truth, both sides are at fault.

"My lord, Gongsun Qi is an official appointed by the imperial court. Mo Wentian killed him without authorization..."

"Gongsun Qi is dead. The living are more important than the dead, do you understand?"

Geng Xiangming was taken aback for a moment, then understood what Qiu Shanjin meant. Gongsun Qi was dead, and it wasn't worth making a big fuss over a dead man.

"So... Mo Wentian is just going to let it go like this?" Geng Xiangming asked unwillingly.

Qiu Shan turned around: "Forget it? Who said we should forget it?"

He walked back to his desk, picked up his pen and wrote a few lines on the document, then stamped it with the prefect's seal.

"Take it." Qiu Shan handed the document to Geng Xiangming.

Geng Xiangming took a look and his pupils suddenly contracted.

The document did not contain a proclamation denouncing Mo Wentian, but rather an appointment.

Mo Wentian was appointed to concurrently govern the two prefectures of Tianmu and Lingchuan.

……

Upon hearing the news, Li Heming's face turned extremely grim.

Although the sect leader agreed to coerce Mo Wentian into submission on the spot, it was he who came up with the idea.

Mo Wentian had a prior agreement with the Black Wind Sect that he could borrow that treasure weapon whenever he encountered trouble.

Li Heming took it upon himself to try and force Mo Wentian to comply, but to his surprise, Mo Wentian refused.

In this way, it would be equivalent to Black Wind Sect breaking the agreement first, so how could Mo Wentian possibly treat them well afterward?

The disciples who had already joined Tianmu County were complaining bitterly. The system was not something you could come and go as you pleased. What were they going to do in the future?

Should we listen to the Black Wind Sect or Mo Wentian?

The Black Wind Sect's plan to control Tianmu County has now completely failed. One wrong move and the whole game is lost!

……

a few days later.

Hong Lang sat in the house with two things in front of him: dozens of silver notes and a small porcelain bottle.

The total amount of silver notes was 2,300 taels, which came from the commander of the White Bone Plains. Pu Xi received 50% of it, and this was the amount left.

These silver notes are issued by the Tianyuan Tongbao bank, whose branches are located throughout the continent, so these silver notes can also be used within the Great Chu Kingdom.

The porcelain bottle contained thirteen Blood Essence Pills, which were found on Luo Heng, Huo Qingbai, Wang Ye, and the more than twenty Marrow Cleansing Realm martial artists.

"Poor bastard." Hong Lang weighed the jade bottle in his hand and muttered.

Two people at the peak of the Meridian Opening Realm, one at the Great Completion of the Meridian Opening Realm, and more than twenty at the Marrow Cleansing Realm—that's all the wealth he has. It's clear that Gongsun Qi isn't very generous to his subordinates.

But then I thought about it again. Blood Essence Pills are rare items. It would be good if an ordinary martial artist could get two or three pills a month.

"Young master, someone from the yamen has come and says the magistrate requests your presence," a servant reported.

"understood."

Hong Lang stuffed the porcelain bottle into his robes and went to the county government office.

Mo Qiushui leaned against the bed, her body wrapped in bandages, her face pale, but her spirits were still good.

Huang Li moved a chair to the side of the bed, and Hong Lang sat down.

"The recovery is going well; he should be able to get out of bed in a few more days."

Mo Qiushui didn't reply, but quietly looked at him. Her gaze was different from usual, less sharp.

Hong Lang felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and coughed, "Why did you call me here?"

Mo Qiushui looked away and took a letter from under her pillow, handing it to him.

"It was sent by the prefect."

Hong Lang took the letter, unfolded it, and read that it contained only one thing.

Prefect Qiu Shanjin issued the appointment, appointing Mo Wentian to concurrently govern the two prefectures of Tianmu and Lingchuan, and also allocated three hundred troops to assist Mo Wentian.

"Concurrently governing two prefectures?" Hong Lang was somewhat surprised. "The prefect just accepted that?"

"I admit it. Gongsun Qi is dead. The prefect isn't that stupid to punish a prefect who controls two counties for the sake of a dead man."

Hong Lang continued, "Since the prefect is concurrently in charge of two prefectures, what has been Geng Xiangming's reaction?"

"Geng Xiangming is too busy taking care of himself to care about us. Gongsun Qi is dead, and Lingchuan County has been lost. Geng Xiangming's attempt to steal a chicken has backfired. Although the Prefect has not openly pursued his responsibility, everyone knows that he has lost badly this time."

Mo Qiushui put the letter away and continued, "Moreover, after the prefect annexed Lingchuan Prefecture, he had the territory of two prefectures and nearly six hundred warriors under his command. He already had the strength to challenge the prefectural commander."

Even if Geng Xiangming wanted revenge, he would have to consider his own limitations.

Hong Lang nodded; Mo Wentian's move was indeed brilliant.

Gongsun Qi set an ambush to kill him, but he turned the tables and destroyed the enemy's stronghold, not only relieving the siege of Hengjiang County, but also taking over the entire prefecture.

This courage and decisiveness are unmatched by most people.

only……

Hong Lang pondered for a moment and said, "The prefect's actions are tantamount to cutting off a piece of flesh right under the magistrate's nose. Although Qiu Shanjin reluctantly accepted it, he must be unhappy about it and may have other plans in the future."

Mo Qiushui said indifferently, "So what? Since the prefect dares to do it, we are not afraid of him coming. Of the three prefectural commanders of Zhaohua Prefecture, Qin Yan has the deepest foundation, followed by Geng Xiangming and Deng Lin. The prefect can suppress them not only because of his cultivation, but also because of his balancing skills."

Now that the prefect has control of two prefectures, he has become a fourth power. If the prefect wants to maintain the balance, he will support him, thereby weakening Qin Yan.

Hong Lang understood. Although Mo Wentian's step was risky, it had precisely stepped into the cracks of power.

"The prefect has played a very big game," Hong Lang said sincerely.

Mo Qiushui's tone carried a hint of pride: "He has always been like this, calculating every move far ahead. Even I, his daughter, am just a pawn on his chessboard."

Hong Lang paused for a moment before asking, "Do you hate him?"

"Hate?" Mo Qiushui thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I don't hate him. He taught me that in this world, only two kinds of people can survive: those who are ruthless enough and those who are smart enough."

He possessed both qualities, which is why he was able to rise from a minor magistrate of Longxiang County to a prefect who controlled two prefectures.

"As for me..." She lowered her head, looking at her arm wrapped in bandages, "It's my own fault for not being smart enough, I can't blame anyone else."

Hong Lang remained silent. He knew that Mo Qiushui was speaking from the heart. This woman's fierceness and stubbornness were no less than her father's.

Perhaps that's why Mo Wentian didn't come to visit her.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before Hong Lang got up to take his leave.

……

Tianmu City, Council Hall.

Mo Wentian sat in the main seat, with a map of Lingchuan County spread out on the long table in front of him, several county names marked in red already circled.

Seventeen or eighteen people sat on both sides of the hall, all of whom were his trusted confidants who had followed him for many years. Zhou Liang sat in the first seat on the left.

Mo Wentian spoke up: "Of the seventeen counties in Lingchuan Prefecture, Gongsun Qi is dead, and most of the prefectural troops have been routed. The rest have been incorporated into our forces. Since the Prefect has entrusted me with the administration of two prefectures, I must manage Tianmu and Lingchuan well."

"Everyone deserves credit for our success in capturing Lingchuan, especially Zhou Liang."

Zhou Liang quickly stood up: "I was merely following the prefect's plan and dare not take credit for it."

Mo Wentian took out the document and announced loudly, "Zhou Liang is hereby appointed to concurrently govern Pinglu and Anchang counties!"

A murmur of surprise rippled through the hall; they had actually been rewarded with land from two counties.

Zhou Liang was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply: "The Prefect's kindness is immense; Zhou Liang will repay it with his life!"

Mo Wentian nodded and then looked at the rest of the group.

"Liu Quan concurrently governs Cangwu County."

"Sun Boyong concurrently governs Yongning County."