Li Qingxian said, "What do our superiors even mean? No evidence, no clues, and they just send us over. Isn’t this just fooling around?"
"If there were evidence and clues, would it still be our turn to come slogging out here in the middle of the night? They would have made their move long ago," Jingg Guan countered.
"You make a good point. So what do we do? With over two hundred men, a covert investigation is out of the question. The Patrol Bureau is already fanning out, and I hear the Ministry of Justice is also on the move. The Rebels and their ilk have definitely been tipped off by now," Li Qingxian said.
"That is true."
"What do you normally do in a situation like this?" Li Qingxian asked.
"You want the truth?"
"The truth."
"The respectable way is to just go through the motions. Come with your hands out, leave with your pockets full. The less respectable way is to raise hell and turn the place upside down, shaking them down for everything they’ve got. But this is Beichang County, after all. The power structures are a tangled mess, and you never know which bigshot you might offend. So when Inner Officials come here, they usually choose the respectable option."
"What about the assignment?"
"Telling a bunch of us, Seventh Grade officials at best, to catch Rebels and their cronies—is that even a job for a human? Qingxian, it’s not my place to lecture you, but the Patrol Bureau’s main duty is reconnaissance and capture. We investigate first, *then* we arrest," Jingg Guan said, his tone heavy with meaning.
"You’ve successfully convinced me," Li Qingxian said.
Jingg Guan said, "However, the Emperor’s birthday is the top priority. Since we can’t investigate covertly, let’s just make a bigger spectacle. You’re good at that."
"I’m good at what?" Li Qingxian was a little lost.
"We’re all on the same side here, no need to play dumb. That business on the city wall, where you shouted ’Long live the Emperor’ and then composed a First Grade Battle Poem? Others might not know, but who in the Inner Court doesn’t? Who doesn’t..." Jingg Guan paused, "...give you a thumbs-up and praise your absolute, unwavering loyalty!"
"That came from the bottom of my heart. Your praise is well-deserved!" Li Qingxian declared with a perfectly straight face.
Jingg Guan simply smiled, saying nothing.
Li Qingxian thought for a moment, then said, "Fine, we’ll make a bigger spectacle. Bring out the credentials for the Internal Factory, the Night Guard, and the Patrol Bureau. But we can’t let the real work slide. Arrange for men to start the investigation simultaneously."
"We’re all unfamiliar faces here. It won’t be easy to investigate," said the more experienced Jingg Guan.
"Of course, we’ll have the local government officials do the investigating," Li Qingxian said.
Jingg Guan shook his head and chuckled. "If the Rebels, insurgents, the Mud Society, and Nether Mountain have truly put down roots in Beichang County, aren’t you just asking their own people to investigate themselves?"
"But what if I can find out who *isn’t* one of them?" Li Qingxian replied with a slight smile.
"Even a Great Fate Master would be worked to death," Jingg Guan said.
"There’s no rush. We’ll take it slow," Li Qingxian said.
The two of them climbed down from the tree and led their unit into Beichang County.
The Beichang County Magistrate’s Office was ablaze with light. Torches burned with a CRACKLE and a POP as dense rows of the three shifts of government officials lined the path from the outer gate all the way to the main hall.
Enthroned on the Master’s Chair in the main hall of the County Magistrate’s Office sat a young man in green robes, distinguished by a black wolf patch on his chest.
Li Qingxian sat high upon the Master’s Chair, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below. Jingg Guan was seated to the side, accompanying him.
The County Magistrate of Beichang County, Yinn Shuli, along with the County Magistrate, Chief Clerk, County Captain, and other local officials, stood on the left. The men Li Qingxian had brought stood on the right.
Li Qingxian spoke. "County Magistrate Yinn, you’ve all seen the Order Letters from the Internal Factory and the Night Guard. I know you’ve all managed to secure your positions in Beichang County because you have powerful Benefactors backing you. But I’m afraid that while heaven and earth may be vast, the Emperor is vaster still. Wouldn’t you agree, Eunuch Jingg?"
Jingg Guan, with his round face and small eyes, offered a kindly smile. "We will follow Lord Li’s lead in all matters. Lord Li’s words are the words of the Internal Factory. Anyone who opposes Lord Li opposes me. And anyone who opposes me opposes the Internal Factory."
The officials below seemed lost in thought.
Li Qingxian spoke slowly. "I, Li Qingxian, am a straightforward man. I don’t like to beat around the bush. So let’s speak plainly. The Internal Factory has just consolidated its power, and the Patrol Bureau is newly formed. Our men have left the capital, and our swords are drawn. We can’t go back without drawing blood. I don’t expect much cooperation from any of you. I just hope you’ll all be careful not to walk into the path of the Patrol Bureau’s sword and force me to make an example of you. A young man like me is eager to see some blood and earn some merits. If anyone doubts that, we can make a little wager: let’s see what arrives first—the help from your Benefactors, or my blade."
Yinn Shuli quickly bowed low. "My Lord, since you have put it so plainly, this subordinate would be a fool not to appreciate your position. Rest assured, Lord Li. I guarantee that if anyone here truly lacks reverence, I will punish them without mercy! The Emperor’s birthday must not be disturbed!"
Yinn Shuli was a slender, middle-aged man of about forty. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the Beichang County officials behind him.
The assembled officials hurriedly bowed, each one offering their assurance.
Li Qingxian nodded and smiled faintly. "The Rebels and their cohorts are well hidden. County Magistrate Yinn, having served as an official here for many years, has surely not wasted his time. If even County Magistrate Yinn has no leads, then it will be difficult for us outsiders, who have just arrived, to accomplish anything. However, we ultimately serve the Emperor and eat his rice. There are some things we must attempt, even if we know they may be impossible. Of course, we must not disrupt the current excellent state of peace and unity in Beichang County. Therefore, all affairs in Beichang County will proceed as usual. Of the three shifts of government officials, the standing shift will remain untouched. I, this official, will only take control of the Arrest Team and a portion of the Strong Class. Might I ask, how many Black Soldiers in total make up the three shifts in the Beichang County Magistrate’s Office?"
Yinn Shuli felt a chill run down his spine. Steeling himself, he said, "Normally, even for a large county, the official quota for bailiffs should not exceed one hundred. However, the situation in Beichang County is complex, with innumerable matters to attend to. It requires a great many men. As such, the Black Soldiers in the three shifts number over a thousand."
Li Qingxian and Jingg Guan exchanged a look. They knew that counties like this often had bloated payrolls, but they had never imagined it would be this severe.
Li Qingxian smiled. "We are here only to investigate and capture our targets; we will not interfere in any other matters. Let’s do this: leave behind the constables and strong men necessary for daily duties. The rest will be absorbed into my unit. How does that sound?"
"This subordinate obeys!" Yinn Shuli let out a breath of relief.
Li Qingxian glanced at the sky. "It is late. Let’s dismiss for now. I must trouble County Magistrate Yinn to arrange for rooms so my brothers can get a good night’s sleep."
"As you command."
After a flurry of arrangements, everyone settled down to rest. Li Qingxian and a few others remained in the County Magistrate’s Office.
Li Qingxian found Han Anbo, and the two of them conferred for a long time before separating.
At dawn, just after breakfast, Li Qingxian was in discussion with Jingg Guan when Yinn Shuli arrived with a government official in tow. The official was holding a large stack of bright red invitation cards.
Yinn Shuli smiled. "Hearing of Lord Li’s and Lord Jingg’s arrival, the county’s Gentry have all sent their invitations. They wish to host a welcome banquet for you both."
Li Qingxian glanced at Jingg Guan, then thought for a moment. "I am here on the Emperor’s command, so it wouldn’t be proper for me to attend. But to refuse might seem cold. Let’s do this: say that my Cultivation of my Fate Skill has reached a critical juncture, and I cannot receive guests. Ask Lord Jingg to attend in our stead. Since they are Gentry and not Outer Officials, it shouldn’t be a problem."
"Very well. We will do as Your Lordship arranges," said Yinn Shuli.
After Yinn Shuli left, Jingg Guan asked, "Are you really not going?"
"I’ve never been good at these social functions to begin with. Besides, who knows what sort of hidden schemes are at play here? What if one of my late father’s old enemies decides to cause trouble for me at the banquet? It’s better to just refuse outright. I never wanted to get entangled with these people when I came to Beichang County. The sooner I finish this business, the sooner I can leave. I am a Fate Master first and an official second. I didn’t fully grasp that in the past, but I see it with perfect clarity now," Li Qingxian said.
"Fair enough. I’ll handle the social niceties, and you can focus on investigating the rebels. But what about the Mining Director, and the Beichang Guard stationed nearby? Should we pay them a visit?"
Li Qingxian said, "We can’t afford to offend the Mining Director, especially since he’s an Inner Official. It’s best if you go see him. I’ll find a gift for you to bring along. As for the Beichang Guard, let’s not make contact for the time being. If we truly need them, we’ll go through official channels to request troops."