Yinshan Record

Chapter 184 Releasing the Golden Lock
Su Che quickly crossed the desolate streets.

The shops on both sides of the road had already put up their doors, and the newly affixed seals were as vivid as paper money left on the ground after a funeral.

The city was almost deserted, except for the patrolling soldiers and the people who had hurriedly left their homes.

Adults helped the elderly and children pack their bags, the cries of children and the barking of dogs mingling together in a cacophony.

At the entrance of the county government office in Shanyin County, you can still see the admonition stone inscribed with "The common people are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive." However, the plaque of the county government office has been removed, and the six gates are open, showing a sorry state of being deserted.

There wasn't a single person left in the county government office; not even tables and chairs remained. Everything that could be taken away was gone.

Su Che turned left and right, and finally bumped into a few imperial guards in front of the warehouse. They were there holding a book and taking inventory of a pile of supplies.

"Su Lixing".

The group of imperial guards were doing accounts there when they saw Su Che arrive, and they all hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Those who need to move chairs should move chairs, those who need to boil water should boil water, and those who need to pour tea should pour tea.

"What about the bookkeeping?"

Su Che flipped through their account books, glancing around a few times.

"Reporting to Su Lixing, we are currently reviewing and reconciling all expenditure records of Shanyin County."

Of course, it costs money for the Imperial Guards to do their jobs. Not to mention the food and supplies for the people and horses, the swords and spears used to capture demons and the talismans used to exorcise ghosts, all of these things cost money.

Given the huge commotion on Black Mountain Monster's side, the resources invested by the Imperial Guards must be substantial.

"What's going on? Where are Vice Minister Yu and Commander Shi?"

The officer glanced at Su Che and said cautiously.

"Not long after Li Xing left, the imperial court issued an edict saying that Yu Zhongcheng had failed in his duties and was dismissed from his post as acting censor-in-chief, and ordered to return to Jiankang to await further punishment."

Su Che smiled when he heard this.

The Yu clan of Yingchuan is a powerful family with ties to the imperial family. Yu Ze is an outstanding member of the younger generation of the Yu clan of Yingchuan. Removal from office? To await further punishment?
These are all just ways to deceive people.

"With Vice Minister Yu gone from office and a new Vice Minister yet to take office, we are most afraid of something major happening at this critical juncture. Therefore, Commander Shi has gone to Cizhou to take charge of the overall situation."

All of these are reasonable, but what in this world is truly reasonable?

When was the imperial court's decree to abolish Shanyin County issued?

"So the Minister of Justice already knew. The decree to abolish Shanyin County was issued together with the decree to dismiss Vice Minister Yu. We were quite surprised at the time, as the court had not abolished any prefectures or counties for a long time."

Want to go together?

"Stop doing the books."

Su Che put the ledger aside.

"Pack your things and head to Cizhou immediately."

The leading imperial guard looked at his rising superior.

“Su Lixing, you don’t know this, but this task of organizing the account books was personally assigned by Commander Shi, who instructed us to…”

"Don't you know?"

"what do you know?"

"Didn't you notice the previous earthquake?"

"Reporting to the Justice Department, since the incident at Xuanshan, earthquakes have become a frequent occurrence in Shanyin County. We officials have long since become accustomed to it."

"Yes, the affairs of the court are of utmost importance. We cannot let this little disturbance delay our original work..."

Su Che looked at them and said slowly, word by word, "Remember what I'm about to say. Tell Commander Shi everything exactly as it is, and have him report it to the court immediately."

How ridiculous.

"With the Yin-Yang Realm gone, the Buddhist sect, having received the decree from Xuandu Palace, can preach in Guobei County, and the Tathagata Faming resides there permanently. An ancient evil dragon has emerged, rushing eastward into the sea, causing cold currents and upheavals along the way, resulting in crop failures. The Yin-Yang Dharma King has disappeared without a trace. This matter should be the work of Yuwen Rui, the Grand Tutor of Northern Wei, who intends to deplete our national strength and cause the Northern Expeditionary Army to fail."

Su Che finished speaking in rapid succession.

"Remember?"

"what……"

The guards panicked upon hearing this.

They weren't considered important figures among the Imperial Guards, otherwise Shi Chibao wouldn't have kept them here to settle accounts.

Su Che's words contained a wealth of information; those who reacted quickly had already started taking notes, while those who reacted slowly were already somewhat bewildered. "Lord Li Xing... Lord Li Xing, this matter is of great importance. You should personally speak with Commander Shi and then jointly report to the court."

"One of the guards said cautiously, glancing around carefully," he said.

"Let's... let's just forget about it."

Su Che was in a bad mood and didn't want to say anything more to them.

"Get it done right away, I have other important business to attend to."

"This……"

"I am going to hunt down Yuwen Rui, the Grand Tutor of Northern Wei. If you can't deliver the message, you can come with me to kill this old scoundrel."

"Let's... let's just keep the work we have on hand..."

"The Imperial Guard has its own internal laws: disobeying orders is punishable by death; delaying military operations is punishable by death; and those who cower in fear will be castrated and enslaved. According to the official system, as the Imperial Guard in charge of criminal matters, I am in charge of all laws and regulations within the Thousand-Household Office."

Su Che looked at the group of people in front of him.

Which charge will you choose to plead guilty to?

Several imperial guards immediately knelt down.

"Your subordinate will take care of it immediately, please rest assured, Lord Justice."

"If only we had done this earlier, you can go now."

The guards dared not delay any longer and immediately made a mess of things. After hastily tidying up the writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones on the table, they bid farewell to Su Che and packed their things to go to Cizhou to report to Shi Chibao.

Lu Bai stood at a distance and watched the whole scene unfold.

After the imperial guards had gone far away, Su Che remained seated in the courtyard of the Shanyin County government office, his eyes closed and silent.

"Son."

Lu Bai stepped forward: "When shall we depart?"

"Set off? For what purpose?"

Su Che had already cultivated to the sixth level of the Xuanmen realm, and his soul was powerful. As long as he practiced breathing exercises, he would be full of energy and did not need much sleep. However, he felt more tired than ever before and just wanted to get a good night's sleep.

"Chase down Yuwen Rui!"

This is Lu Bai.

Su Che smiled slightly.

"Sit down. You and I are brothers who have been through life and death together. We don't need these formalities anymore."

"Even in front of outsiders, what needs to be done still needs to be done."

Lu Bai took a chair from the side and sat down opposite Su Che.

I feel a bit annoyed.

“This humble servant can see that.”

"Old Lu, what do you think I should do now?"

"I don't quite understand what you mean, young master."

"I've been thinking about something, can you give me some advice?" Su Che rested his head on his wrist.

"When I told Yu Ze to go to the Yin-Yang Realm to investigate, did he know that Shanyin County was going to be merged into Guobei County?"

Lu Bai remained silent.

"Forget it, these things aren't important." Su Che looked at Lu Bai: "Many people want me dead, but even more people want me to live."

"This incident taught me a lesson later."

Su Che looked at Lu Bai: "What are your thoughts?"

"This humble servant has no particular thoughts. Wherever Young Master goes, this humble servant will go. The world is so vast. Whether it's the Yellow Heaven Dao Court beyond the Nine Heavens or the Ghost Ancestor Palace in Beiman, as long as Young Master has a place to stand, there should also be a place for me, Old Lu, to put my feet."

“Okay,” Su Che laughed, “Then let’s do what we want to do from now on.”

Book club group number: 979102562. Everyone, come and urge us to update! We'll also be releasing setting information and bonus chapters in the group.

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(End of this chapter)