Yinshan Record

Chapter 58 Official Promotion to Judicial Officer
Shi Chibao led Su Che and a group of imperial guards, hurrying towards the outskirts of Shanyin City.

They arrived so quickly, Shi Chibao couldn't help but groan inwardly.

From receiving the news that Feng Xingbu was leading the team to his arrival in Shanyin, only two or three days had passed.

When did the imperial court become so efficient?
Outside Shanyin County, a small camp had been set up. A white banner with the words "Dark Clouds" printed on it separated the surrounding area, leaving only one entrance exposed.

A tall pole stood erect, with a tuft of white feathers atop it. Below hung a huge monster's head, with vertical pupils and dripping foul blood.

Several black steeds, their armor removed, were being washed by warriors clad in heavy lion-man armor. Brushes glided across their manes, and the magnificent horses snorted contentedly.
On the other side, there were several targets, and several warriors from the Dark Cloud Capital were practicing archery with black horn-carved bows.

The arrows whistled as they pierced the bullseye with sharp points.

Feng Xingbu sat on a folding chair, with a topographical map of the Shanyin and Guobei mountains in front of him, frowning as he studied it.

The heavily armored warriors outside the camp gate, carrying long spears and steel whips and large axes on their backs, immediately shouted when they saw Shi Chibao and his group, dressed in Qilin robes, approaching.

Who goes there?

"Shi Chibao, the Chief of the Cizhou Judicial Office."

“Su Che, the county magistrate of Shanyin County, Cizhou.”

"...Greetings, Eunuch Feng."

The warrior beneath the lion-man armor extended a densely covered iron gauntlet.

"The official seal and waist tag have been verified."

Shi Qianhu led Su Che to quickly present the two of their seals.

The warrior examined it.

"Let me report..."

"...Let them in."

Feng Buxing's voice came from inside the camp.

“This isn’t Wei Huaiwen’s command tent. There aren’t so many rules here. There are only a few people here. What’s the point of checking them? It’s too much trouble.”

The warrior's face was covered by a mask, so Su Che couldn't see his expression. He only saw the warrior return the waist token and seal afterward.

"Please come in, gentlemen."

Shi Chibao smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, brother."

Inside the tent, Feng Xingbu had already stood up. He was tall and slender, about seven feet tall, with a handsome face and thick, sword-like eyebrows.

Beneath the ferocious mask was a handsome and approachable face.

"Sanlang has lost weight."

Feng Buxing looked at Su Che: "Are you tired from your post?"

“It’s alright,” Su Che replied, “It’s a turbulent time.”

"If you do your best in serving the king, the court will not treat you unfairly."

Feng Buxing turned to look at Shi Chibao, his tone somewhat cold.

"Commander Shi, you eat the king's food and share the king's worries. You must fulfill your responsibilities."

Shi Chibao swallowed hard.

"Your humble servant, your humble servant..."

Eunuch Feng's words were loaded with meaning. He said Su Che had lost weight since arriving in Shanyin, implying it was from his diligent service. He was implying I hadn't fulfilled my responsibilities, so to speak? May the heavens grant me boundless blessings; please, I mustn't be burdened with the blame for both Shanyin and Guobei.

"Alright, there are no outsiders here. Those in the outer court may not know how hard the Imperial Guards work, but how could we in the palace not know?"

Feng Xingbu smiled and said, "Our Imperial Horse Stables will never mistreat our own people."

“Father-in-law is right.”

Commander Shi smiled brightly. "That murderous Yu Ze doesn't value human life. Do you remember the magistrate of Shanyin County, whose surname was Xue?"

“A scholar who had studied diligently for many years and passed the imperial examination, though from a poor family, had always served under him. To kill him without hesitation, doesn’t that chill the heart?”

Feng Buxing looked at Shi Chibao: "How can you do things like this? Don't you agree, Commander Shi?"

“Father-in-law is absolutely right.”

Shi Chibao smiled.

The current empress is from the Yu family of Yingchuan. Even the crown prince has to call Yu Ze "uncle". What does it matter to sentence a county magistrate who is guilty of a crime to hanging?
Moreover, the Censor-in-Chief already has the power to supervise local areas, so it would be an overreach of authority for Eunuch Feng to try to convict the county magistrate.

"Commander Shi, please sit. Third Young Master, please sit as well."

Feng Xingbu waved his hand, and two Hu beds were brought over by soldiers from Wuyundu.

Su Che sat down carefully.

Even though we're familiar with each other, we must still show the respect that's due.

One should not be estranged from relatives, nor should one overstep the bounds of propriety with those one is familiar with.

"County Commandant Su."

"The subordinate is here."

Eunuch Feng's expression darkened, and he immediately invoked Su Che's official position.

"When your memorial was submitted, Xie Yu, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, immediately reported it to His Majesty. At that time, His Highness was discussing metaphysics with His Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Guangning. He was deeply moved when he saw your memorial."

"His Majesty said that the defeat at Fangtou back then was a regret for all time. What he regretted was not the success or failure of the Northern Expedition, but the deep resentment that the best of our dynasty was destroyed. Today, seeing that the Su family of Duling has a successor who is willing to devote himself to the country, he is very gratified."

"At that time, the Crown Prince was tested and it was said that it was a waste of such a talent to be appointed as a county magistrate in a local area."

“The Crown Prince once said, ‘The country has unpolished jade, which shines only when it is polished.’ Now that it is shining brightly, we might as well elevate it.”

"Your Majesty, what would be a good job for the County Magistrate of Su?" Princess Guangning interjected, "Cizhou is a small place with many complicated matters. The Imperial Guards have set up a single Criminal Investigation Thousand-Household Office here, but there is only a Chief Criminal Investigation Thousand-Household Officer and no Deputy Criminal Investigation Thousand-Household Officer to assist him. It is inevitable that there will be mistakes."

"His Majesty was greatly pleased and appointed Su County Lieutenant as Deputy Commander of the Criminal Division of Cizhou Prefecture."

Feng Xingbu pulled out a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve.

"This is the approval document from the Ministry of Personnel. Congratulations, Su Lixing."

A promotion just like that?
Su Che was somewhat puzzled.

Is this what it feels like to have connections in high places? You didn't do anything, and you got promoted just like that?
Su Che didn't believe in things like "a gem of the nation" or "serving the country to the death."

How could the emperor and the crown prince not have heard of the state of his predecessor? Jiankang City is only so big.
They definitely know.

The saying "a piece of unpolished jade in the country" simply means that one was originally just a broken stone, and only after someone cut it open was it discovered that one was a jade.
The phrase "to serve one's country to the utmost" can be interpreted in two ways: on the one hand, it means that one is diligent in one's work; on the other hand, it can be understood as a self-reminder.

While no one else may care about the "Six Harmonies Azure Dragon" destiny, the emperor will definitely care.

However, the attitude behind this is quite intriguing.

The promotion he received this time is a tangible benefit. Perhaps, like the golden elixir bestowed upon him before, it can be seen as a form of compensation to the Su family.

After all, Young Master Su was still fighting hard in the north following Wei Huaiwen, while his elder held an important position in the palace.

Feng Buxing pulled out a small copper seal from his sleeve. It was about an inch square and had a small, crawling snake as the seal knob.

Su Che accepted it solemnly.

"This is the seal of the Judicial Commissioner of Cizhou. Judicial Commissioner Su must carry it with him at all times."

After completing the handover, Feng Xingbu breathed a long sigh of relief.

“Let’s continue talking about the changes in Shanyin.” Feng Buxing pointed to the monster’s head hanging on the flagpole above.

“Yu Ze said that the Jiang family colluded with a powerful demon, so I led a team to search the mountain and beheaded the demon with one stroke. This matter in Shanyin involves the former national advisor, a third-rank expert. We cannot treat him lightly and then let him go. There must be a result.”

(End of this chapter)