Chapter 1442: Unscheduled Audience

Chapter 1427: The Unattainable Audience

Evildoers also bleed, get injured... and die! But if people always shrink from resistance, perpetually waiting for others to avenge them, then they will continue to suffer oppression, endure bullying, and remain as lowly as weeds in the mud or dust in the sunlight. If one always waits, relies on others, and demands, how can they ever attain the justice they seek? Eventually, some will lose patience and decide to take action themselves!

"They adopt the identity of a role model, hoping to harness the power that comes with it." He Lingchuan found nothing to criticize in this. Dispelling the haze of apathy and sowing the seeds of resistance – isn't this the future the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities wishes to see?

"However, all the victims in Xiaojiao were ordinary wealthy households and well-to-do families. I haven't seen them commit any major evils — at least not on the surface."

"Where is Xiaojiao?"

"Between Mangzhou and Tianshui City," Wan Houfeng whispered. "That is, within the borders of Jiao State."

He Lingchuan cracked his knuckles, making a 'ka-la' sound: "Considering the timing, did the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities go to Xiaojiao to kill people right after killing Xue Zongwu?"

"It seems so."

Dong Rui interjected, "Wait, how many people died in Xiaojiao?"

"In the six towns of Xiaojiao, five households were killed within two days! All their homes were ransacked," Wan Houfeng said. "It seems someone is killing people and seizing wealth under the guise of the Black Armored Army."

"It's bound to happen," He Lingchuan said. "The greater the reputation of the Black Armored Army, the more people will impersonate them, whether to do good or evil."

"If this continues, the Black Armored Army's reputation will be ruined," Dong Rui rubbed his nose. "What do you think the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities will do?"

"How should I know?" He Lingchuan smiled. "But I imagine he won't take any action."

"Why?"

"He had just killed Xue Zongwu, and then in Xiaojiao, someone started impersonating him and wantonly killing innocents." He Lingchuan analyzed, "This is a bit too fast. Before the news of Xue Zongwu's death spread, the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities' name wasn't as renowned in Jiao State as it was elsewhere. Who would think to use his name to kill people and rob them of their wealth?"

"So this is very likely a trap. A key reason the Black Armored Army is so elusive is that no one can predict their targets or accurately estimate where they will appear, making them impossible to guard against or track." He Lingchuan drank the last sip of wine. "If the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities were to go after these impersonators who kill and steal wealth, he would be giving up his biggest advantage, actively exposing himself to the enemy. His actions would no longer be like an antelope hanging its horns, leaving no trace."

"If someone is plotting in the shadows, which faction do you think it would be?"

"There are many factions that hate the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities now, too many to count on one's fingers. Perhaps even celestial beings are hot on his heels. So let's set this matter aside for now." He Lingchuan made his decision: "Tianshui City still has several challenges to overcome right now."

Shortly after He Lingchuan returned to the inn, Fan Shuang also came back, looking a bit embarrassed: he hadn't been able to secure a specific time for He Lingchuan's audience with the King. Tianshui City was currently receiving envoys from myriad states; the King of Jiao was already stretched thin just meeting with representatives from various regions. Small powers like Yangshan Archipelago usually didn't get an opportunity to meet the King in person; seeing a few ministers was considered quite good. However, He Lingchuan was a special guest, so the King of Jiao might perhaps make time to see him. Perhaps.

He Lingchuan showed no particular emotion, simply smiling and patting Fan Shuang's shoulder, saying, "No matter, it actually saves me trouble. It's best if the King never remembers me. Once the birthday celebration concludes, I'll have completed my mission." He knew in his heart that the King was currently vexed by Xue Zongwu's death; how could he have the mind to bother with a minor power from out of town?

Fan Shuang then added, "Brother He, do you remember General Xue Zongwu, whom we met when we first disembarked? I just learned in the palace that he was assassinated in Mangzhou!" His words were filled with a sigh.

The Soul-Sensing Mirror scoffed, "What does his death have to do with you? Why are you sighing like that?"

"How could this be!" He Lingchuan looked shocked, "General Xue was so powerful; could an ordinary person kill him?"

"The culprit is the leader of the Black Armored Army!" Commander Zhao also entered with the palace guards, and a commotion immediately arose upon hearing the news.

"General Xue was actually assassinated?" Xue Zongwu was immensely powerful in combat and had many personal guards, so everyone's first reaction upon hearing this news was disbelief. "Even if the opponent was the Black Armored Army, that... that's just too outrageous. A Jiao State general, decorated with numerous military achievements, actually lost to that shadowy, obscure figure? Xue Zongwu, who had enemies everywhere, didn't end up dying on the battlefield, wrapped in a horsehide shroud, but instead died mysteriously in his father-in-law's mountain villa?"

"Within our borders, assassinating our great general!" Fan Shuang was furious, "Arrogant and tyrannical! This is a declaration of war!"

He Lingchuan eagerly asked, "Could it be an impersonation by an enemy? I suspect General Xue had quite a few enemies."

"The dragon's head emblem also appeared at Xiaotao Mountain Villa, remaining for three days before fading," Fan Shuang said. "As far as I know, that's the unmistakable mark of the Black Armored Army's presence."

He Lingchuan shrugged, "There are thousands upon thousands of supernatural abilities in this world; surely many can achieve such an effect?"

"Who knows?" Fan Shuang wrung his hands. "My father always said the Black Armored Army wouldn't dare come to our capital. Did they perhaps hear that remark?" Everyone in Jiao said so; who knows where the Black Armored Army heard it. He sighed again, "And just before my King's birthday celebration. Alas, what a tumultuous time." Even he knew the current situation was delicate, where one wrong move could affect everything; He Lingchuan naturally understood even better. He sighed deeply, "I even told General Xue I intended to call upon him in Tianshui City. Who would have thought... alas!"

Commander Zhao and Fan Shuang also sighed along, privately thinking how fake it was. Who could forget how the two of them were at loggerheads by the river? However, pretending was an essential skill in official circles, so they certainly couldn't expose He Lingchuan's act.

Back in his room, He Lingchuan heard the Soul-Sensing Mirror spit, "When you were in Ju City, the King of Jiao used both hard and soft tactics, persistently badgering you until you agreed to attend the birthday celebration. Now that you're here, he acts aloof and reserved, not even having time to see you!" It grumbled, "Why was he so polite before and arrogant now?"

"Now that I'm here, can I possibly escape his grasp?" He Lingchuan smiled. "I've already been drawn into this whirlpool; I can't leave before the birthday celebration ends. Since he can keep me here, why would the King need to be too deferential towards me?" Aside from guests from Beijia, Jiao State was entitled to treat anyone else without ceremony. The mirror still cursed, "Short-sighted! He'll have his regrets."

In the evening, Fan Shuang arranged for He Lingchuan to meet with two major merchant guilds. With the King of Jiao's decree, the cooperation between the two parties was immediate and seamless, and several large deals were concluded without much deliberation. He Lingchuan knew this was the reward for coming to Tianshui City according to the King of Jiao's wishes. First, the stick; once the objective was achieved, the carrots would follow. Those in power were well-versed in this tactic.

However, the Bu family, whom He Lingchuan most wanted to meet, never appeared. The Bu family was an established prominent clan in Tianshui City, and the three Bu brothers all held official positions at court, leading to the family's increasing prosperity. The Bu family was involved in an extremely complex array of industries, but He Lingchuan was particularly interested in one: the export rights for cocoa beans – known as 'xiang le dou' in this country – and their derived products. Cocoa was clearly a specialty of Zhuo, but He Lingchuan hadn't been able to secure any cocoa product business there because the Bu family held a monopoly on bulk sales of cocoa. If they didn't approve, an outside merchant guild like Yangshan couldn't buy them. He Lingchuan had to negotiate with the Bu family to obtain exclusive distribution rights; only then would there be an opportunity to make a fortune together. The King of Jiao wanted He Lingchuan to come to Tianshui City, so he had to offer him some incentive, which is why the Bu family also had an interest in cooperating. That evening, both parties were supposed to sit down, enjoy some drinks, chat, discuss business, and sign a few agreements. Even knowing the King harbored ill intentions, He Lingchuan took such a great risk by coming, so he had to take all the bait the King had offered.

Unfortunately, Fan Shuang paid a hurried late-night visit, bringing bad news: "Brother He, the Bu family can't make it. They've been implicated in the Huang Prefect case."

"The Huang Prefect case?" He Lingchuan pulled out a chair for him. "Brother Fan, please sit and tell me slowly."

Prefect Huang was a friend of Fan Shuang and the father of Huang Shen, a disciple of Lingxu. He was impeached by Regent Qingyang, convicted, imprisoned, and executed in less than five days. He Lingchuan had seen Qian Yu's ledgers and knew that Prefect Huang had been involved in some of Xue Zongwu's clandestine dealings.

Fan Shuang's face showed both shock and guilt: "I just found out that Regent Qingyang yesterday afternoon accused the Bu family of secretly replacing military rations, substituting inferior goods for superior ones, and embezzling relief funds, causing a deficit in the national treasury. That's why the Bu family was in such a state of panic and couldn't make your appointment, Brother He." Fan Shuang had originally arranged the meeting for both sides, but this was a sudden, unforeseen circumstance, an act of force majeure.

He Lingchuan was slightly surprised, "Secretly replacing military rations?" According to regulations, military rations must be prioritized for supply, and their quality must be excellent or higher. In Panlong City, the best grain was naturally prioritized for the needs of the soldiers. What the Bu family did was sell the good grain on the market and then fill the empty granaries with inferior grain.

"Forgive my bluntness, but that's truly dishonest." Inferior grades of grain often had issues like hollowness, weevils, dampness, and mold. Stored in warehouses, these problems might not be discovered immediately unless a large quantity was suddenly needed.

Fan Shuang sighed upon hearing this, unsure what to say. Jiao State had fought few wars in recent years, and normally, its resources were abundant and its granaries full. Even when the army used grain, they wouldn't use the batches replaced by the Bu family. Furthermore, military rations stockpiled for a while and not used would also be sold on the market when new grain was replaced. As long as it was handled properly, it wouldn't leave much evidence for anyone. And if the accounts were well-managed, the problem wouldn't be so easily exposed. He Lingchuan knew that if Qingyang could expose the Bu family, it meant the Bu family's offenses were certainly more than just this.

"So, how did this get connected to the Huang Prefect case?"

The Huang Prefect case had many suspicious points and implicated many officials, including Xue Zongwu.

"Of the official granaries where the Bu family swapped grain, the three largest were one within Tianshui City and two in the surrounding areas." Fan Shuang didn't mention the exact locations. "Those were under Prefect Huang's jurisdiction and also subject to his inspection."