Yinshan Record

Chapter 4 Eastward
Su Che discovered that things were not as he had imagined.

An ancient temple, a young swordsman, a wood spirit, a tree demon grandmother, and a beautiful female ghost...

Everything should have been painted in this style.

But the piece of something that was left under the grass in the yard now looks like it has a texture that is as golden as jade.

Su Che keenly noticed this.

No, the art style has changed.

The so-called Five Elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The Five Elements generate and restrain each other, which are the basis of all things.

From the perspective of the Five Elements.

The Kumu Zen Temple is rich in the energy of plants and trees, which corresponds to the element of wood.

Last night, that thing shone with a bluish light like a wheel, and bluish color also belongs to the element of wood.

But this thing in front of me looks like gold and jade. If it really was cut from the monster last night, then that monster should clearly belong to the metal element.

Jin Kemu.

Su Che cleared his mind.

Perhaps my understanding of the changes in the Five Elements is too superficial, and I cannot fathom the mysteries within.

Young Master Su took out a yellow silk handkerchief from his sleeve.

This was a gift from Huang Tiandao when I left the capital to take up my new post.

A piece of yellow silk woven from Shu brocade was then inscribed with countless "Imperial Edicts of the Great Purity Sealing Spirit" on the silk by the high-ranking Taoist priest Huang Tiandao using a jade brush and cinnabar.

The incantation is continuous, the spiritual energy is contained within, and it contains the profound techniques of the Six Heavens of the Yellow Heaven Path, possessing the power to ward off ghosts and gods.

This is a treasure that can both seal away demons and protect oneself.

Dude, you're a prop-based player. You have the hard work of the Sword God of Shilipo emerging from the mountain, and I have the ability to defeat the Moon Worship Cult Leader with a single throw of the Qiankun.

Using Huang Tiandao's magic cloth, Su Che carefully picked up the long strip that was neither gold nor jade and wrapped it up layer by layer. Then he called the group of herb gatherers to set off together.

In this day and age, even in broad daylight, no one wants to linger here.

The group continued along the mountain road towards Shanyin County.

The herb gatherer named Zhou Si became very cautious in his words and actions after learning of Su Che's identity.

This inevitably disappointed Su Che.

He was hoping to learn more about Shanyin County from the leader of the herb gatherers.

But his tight-lipped and cautious manner makes one thing clear.

The officials, both high and low, in Shanyin County are clearly corrupt.

That's why the people fear officials like tigers.

Su Che recalled the information he had seen before.

Daliang divided the county-level administrative regions into four categories.

Jingxian, Shangxian, Zhongxian, and Xiaoxian.

Jingxian was the location of the capital city. Jiankang was divided into three counties, and with the addition of Jiangling and two other counties, it became five counties.

As for the three types of counties—upper, middle, and small—they were determined by the number of households. According to the old system of the previous dynasty, a county with more than 10,000 households was an upper county, a county with more than 5,000 households was a middle county, and a county with fewer than 5,000 households was a small county.

Since the fall of the previous dynasty, the world has been in chaos, with warlords ruling over their own territories and war raging without a moment of peace.

Among them, demons took the opportunity to profit, ghosts and monsters seized food, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism competed with each other, and powerful and corrupt officials amassed wealth.

It's a vivid picture of the apocalypse.

As the number of households dwindled, the population dwindled day by day. So when the Great Liang Dynasty was established, it simply designated counties with more than 5,000 households as superior counties, those with more than 3,000 households as medium counties, and those with fewer than 3,000 households as small counties.

Guobei County and Shanyin County were the heartland of Dongyang Prefecture, and the two counties were neighbors. In the previous dynasty, they were both large counties with more than 10,000 households, and even after many years of war, they maintained a scale of more than 5,000 households.

Everyone is facing their own difficulties now.

There are ghosts in Guobei and demons in Shanyin.

Guobei County has a long history, having been established earlier than Shanyin County. Not to mention its large population, it suffered repeated ravages of war during the turmoil at the end of successive dynasties.

There are at least six recorded instances of massacres in the city.

The condensation of resentment is the best soil for nurturing vengeful ghosts.

If Guo Bei's troubles are man-made, then Shan Yin's problems are a natural disaster.

The problem with Shanyin is that it has good feng shui.

Nestled against the Xuan Mountain to the south and surrounded by three rivers, it truly deserves the description "a place blessed by nature and endowed with outstanding natural beauty."

Find a feng shui master to look along the mountain and river formations, and you can find a few of these formations, such as "Water Dragon Waterfall," "Sleeping Ox Land," "Phoenix Eye," "Sleeping Qilin Cave," and "Heaven Beyond the Well."

The problem lies precisely in this good aspect.

If the feng shui is good, people buried in this place can bring blessings to their descendants, and creatures that live in this place can become monsters.

There are many monsters in Shanyin County.

The county officials included the magistrate, surnamed Xue, who was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Although he was the magistrate, he actually served under the provincial censor and did not come to the county to perform his duties.

There was also a county magistrate and a registrar. The county magistrate, surnamed Jiang, was in charge of all affairs within the county. The registrar, surnamed Tian, ​​was in charge of official documents, selection of officials, and criminal matters.

Both of them came from prominent local families and were powerful local figures who truly controlled the fate of the people of Shanyin County.

Outside the east gate of Shanyin County, inspectors and constables had already set up a sunshade, with red and yellow satin wrapped around the bamboo frame, fluttering in the wind.

Nearly a hundred constables and patrolmen lined up in formation, dressed in their black gauze robes, with knives at their waists, or carrying crossbows and spears, or bows and arrows on their backs.

Just a quick glance gives the impression of a battle-hardened elite.

County Magistrate Jiang was fat and tall, like a Vajrapani statue at the temple gate wearing clothes two sizes too small; something just didn't look right.

Tian, ​​the registrar, was short in stature, with a red, bulbous nose, and his hands were tucked into his sleeves, giving him a preoccupied look.

“I say, Your Excellency,” Tian Zhubu cleared his throat as usual, “what is the background of the newly appointed County Commandant?” This was one of his speaking techniques. In fact, Tian Zhubu had already asked someone to find out who Su Che, the Third Young Master, was.

This was just a prelude to get Magistrate Jiang to speak; otherwise, the two of them, one tall and one short, would have been sunbathing there.

I'm really feeling quite annoyed.

"The Su family of Duling were originally military men from Yongzhou, nothing much to say about them," said Magistrate Jiang, but sighed inwardly.

There are some things that you may say you don't care about, but you're still upset inside.

I wonder when my own Jiang family of Shanyin will be able to achieve a high status like the Su family.

"The defeat at Fangtou during the Northern Expedition more than a decade ago almost wiped out the entire family. Apart from one person from the previous generation who is still in the Palace Secretariat, there are only three left."

Eunuch, as Tian Zhubu knew, the elder of the Su family did not have a low rank in the inner court composed of the Twelve Directorates, Four Offices, and Eight Bureaus.

And it's very likely that we'll take another step forward soon.

"Besides those who died in Fangtou, there are three members left in this generation of the Su family. The eldest son was just promoted to Prefect of Beiyu and General Who Pacifies Bandits. He is now serving under Grand Commander Wei."

The rule in Daliang was that civil and military officials should share the same path. It was common for military officers to concurrently hold local official positions, and for civil officials to have the title of military officer.

When the name of Wei Huaiwen, a pillar of the state who could intimidate the enemy, was mentioned, the conversation between Magistrate Jiang and Registrar Tian paused for a moment. This name was enough to make the people of Liang pause for a moment and feel respect for him.

"The second young master is a secretary, and I've heard he's a humble and principled gentleman who also studied at Mount Yuelu. Then there's our County Magistrate Su..."

Magistrate Jiang looked at Registrar Tian and said, "I heard that this man led a group of hooligans to surround the carriage of the wife of a certain Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War..."

"Oh?" Clerk Tian looked surprised.

"...That lady is already forty-nine, and her eldest granddaughter is almost married..."

"What a huge fire!" Tian, ​​the registrar, was stunned.

In chaotic times, early marriage and childbirth were quite common. The lady whom Su Che's predecessor had sexually assaulted did indeed have several children and grandchildren.

"Later, we ran into a student who had come out of Bailudong for study tour. We grabbed him and beat him up. I guess his family didn't want him to cause trouble, so they sent him here to us to vent their anger."

Magistrate Jiang looked at Registrar Tian and instructed, "The prefecture has already sent people to give instructions. We should carefully coax him. In a few months, his elders in the capital will remember him and promote him to another post. Then we can consider our mission accomplished."

“I’m actually hoping he gets angry,” said Tian, ​​rubbing his temples, “so he can set three fires and give this Shanyin County a good smoke.”

Magistrate Jiang's face immediately tensed up: "What? Has silver gone missing from the treasury again?"

Registrar Tian sighed, "The accounts are always inaccurate, and now there's a difference of almost a hundred taels. I can't figure out whether someone is smuggling it in or if some kind of sorcerer skilled in smuggling has come along."

"Has this been going on for almost a month now?"

"After today, it will be exactly fifty days."

"Would a sorcerer who can move things with five ghosts only steal two taels a day?" Magistrate Jiang frowned as he looked at his colleague.

How could anyone be so muddleheaded?

Magistrate Jiang asked himself, if he knew the Five Ghosts Moving Technique, he would have moved all of Tian Zhubu's house clean as soon as he arrived. Why would he steal five taels today and then rest for two days?
"His arrival is perfect for him to handle."

Looking into the distance, Magistrate Jiang could still not see any trace of the Third Young Master Su.

I guess he's off somewhere having a good time with women, I don't know.
Old Jiang recalled his youthful days, when he was an indestructible, unyielding, and truly resilient man.

"Reporting to my two lords... *sigh*"

A weary clerk emerged from inside the city gate.

"Catch your breath before you speak," Clerk Tian said, staring at him. "What's wrong? Is the silver in the treasury running low again?"

"The new county lieutenant... the new county lieutenant has arrived..."

"We've arrived?" County Magistrate Jiang's lips suddenly felt dry.

That bastard, why doesn't he follow the rules? It's customary to set up a tent at the East Gate to welcome a new official.

There's a name for this place called "Auspicious Purple Qi Coming from the East".

That guy surnamed Su really doesn't follow the rules.

"Hmph, what are you all standing there for? Have someone collect all of these."

The county magistrate glanced at the registrar.

"Let's go and meet them."

"Please wait, my lord." Registrar Tian grabbed Magistrate Jiang's arm.

"How many people did that County Magistrate Su bring? Did you order the government office to prepare a meal?"

Tian, ​​the registrar, asked the clerk.

"The student has already ordered the kitchen to prepare the meal. County Magistrate Su has no other attendants, only a pageboy."

Tian, ​​the registrar, turned to look at Jiang, the county magistrate.

The two exchanged glances.

Magistrate Jiang chuckled.

"My brother is still the most shrewd."

"Traveling light and changing his appearance, this Third Young Master Su is a reasonable person."

"Having spent so many years in the capital, one should understand some things by now. As the sage said, 'Example is better than precept.'"

County Magistrate Jiang called out to the inspectors beside him.

"Don't just stand there, let's go after we're done cleaning up."

Clerk Tian then added, "After everyone has left, the three inspectors will return to the yamen later to welcome County Magistrate Su together."

The three inspectors looked at each other, unsure of the current situation, and had no choice but to agree.

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(End of this chapter)