Patrol Captain

"What are you doing, sir?"

"Go to Qingshan County!" Helian Shan stood up, his eyes hardening, as if he had made a decision.

When Lei Shan Lei Gong heard that the old man was dissatisfied with His Majesty, his pupils constricted and he hurriedly advised, "My lord, the situation is critical now. Military affairs are of utmost importance and cannot be neglected day or night. If people find out that you have left Yunding Mountain, the morale of the army will be unstable, and I am even more afraid that those treacherous people will take action against Yunding Mountain. I urge you to think twice."

"Besides, General Chen is clearly at odds with the court. Why should you trouble yourself, sir!"

But Helian Shan glanced at her sideways, his voice turning deep and imposing, "Are you trying to stop me?"

Lei Shan immediately bowed his head and clasped his hands, saying, "I dare not!"

Helian Shan knew that the Lei Gong clan was favored by the emperor and extremely loyal. A hoarse, low self-mockery escaped his throat.

"At Yunding Mountain, it makes no difference whether I am here or not. The people are scrambling to escape, and even a junior officer is about to curse me to my face. I always thought about the overall situation and was afraid of everything, which has led to this mess."

"Ah, people eventually grow old, decrepit and without any ambition. It's time for this old man to step down and pass the throne to a more capable person!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Shan, who had been looking down, suddenly raised his head, realized something was wrong, his expression changed, and his pupils contracted.
"Does Your Excellency intend to hand over the Circuit Intendant's Office?"

"No, that would be impossible. Without His Majesty's decree, it would be illegal and would only lead to trouble."

Helian Shan flicked his sleeve, sending Lei Shan flying to the side, and snorted angrily.
"Get out of my way! What time is it now? Do you think I have no scruples? I have devoted myself to the Great Qian Dynasty, risking my reputation for many years, and now I'm being held back by this. I'm seething with anger."

As he spoke, he almost gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot and contorted in a ferocious grimace, each word dripping with rage.
"After this matter is over, I will definitely apologize to His Majesty. No one can stop me now!"

After saying this, the old minister, who had served three dynasties, took a step and disappeared from the room.

Lei Shan, who had been thrown back by the powerful aura, steadied himself and watched the old national teacher leave. Lei Gong's face was a mixture of emotions, and he finally let out a long sigh.

"My lord, you've really put me in a difficult position!"

Without an imperial edict to transfer military power, there is no legal basis for the transfer. This would be tantamount to a disguised attempt to force His Majesty to issue an imperial edict to establish the legal basis. This is up to His Majesty.

But the second path, where the initiative is completely out of His Majesty's hands, is for the person who takes over military power to change the military command and declare himself king.
But Lei Shan knew that whether he reported it or not, it wouldn't stop the Grand Preceptor from making up his mind!

The loyal Imperial Advisor, who has served three dynasties, has defied His Majesty's decree; the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty is about to change!
Qingshan County, at dusk.

The vast Langdang Mountains stretch for eight hundred miles, the sky clear and pristine. The autumn sun, its intense heat softened, transforms into golden rays that bathe the landscape for miles. Distant peaks appear like dark eyebrows, and layered mountains are tinged with pale crimson and pale yellow. Dark green pine forests are nestled among ochre-red cliffs, their density varying, drifting along the winding valleys. The crystal-clear waters reflect the sky and clouds. The setting sun hangs over the western mountains, painting the horizon a tapestry of orange and crimson. The afterglow sweeps across the Nu River, its surface shimmering like shattered gold.

At this moment, in this remote corner of southeastern Sichuan, on the Nu River, there was an unusually noisy scene.

Dozens of miles from Qingshan County, the Nujiang River section of Langdang Mountain is dotted with various types of boats, painted barges, and small boats, stretching eastward. It is much more lively than before, like a thousand sails racing and a hundred boats vying for position.

The people on board were not tourists enjoying the scenery, but people who had traveled thousands of miles to "seek refuge".

Many of these ships departed from Chengdu. Their destination was clear: Qingshan County, a small county town hidden in Langdang Mountain!

According to the "Legend of the Demon Slayer of Qingshan", Qingshan County, under the jurisdiction of Baidi City, is located on the eastern foothills of Langdang Mountain, in the southeastern corner of Jiannan Road. The famous first Shu martial saint in a thousand years, Chen Yuan, the former Ninth Mountain General, once served as a patrol officer here and fought his way up from this small county town.

The news spread that someone was selling information on the black market that General Chen had returned to Qingshan County. This attracted many people who came seeking refuge, bringing their families with them.

At this moment, on a large boat deep into Langdang Mountain on the Nu River, someone shouted...

"We're almost at Qingshan County!"

Soon, the two decks were packed with people. Many of them, dressed in fine clothes and carrying bags, gazed into the distance, looking at the green mountains on both sides of the river and the golden shimmering surface of the river in the setting sun, with a sense of unknown anticipation in their hearts.

These people migrated with their entire families, traveling thousands of miles by boat. They were mostly from well-off families, which could be seen from their clothing. They were basically among the first to receive the news, and when they saw that the situation was not right, they decisively fled.

"Is that Martial Saint General really here?"

"If that's true, that would be great. With that person's killing aura deterring all demons, the war probably won't reach here."

"I don't know. I heard from the black market that they saw troops from the Ninth Mountain here, guarding this county town. Those black market dealers are bastards; they dare to sell this kind of information for several coins. They're insane!"

"Did so many people get the letter? They must be making a fortune. This money is too easy to earn. This is chaos."

"Who knows? I just hope the news is true, then it'll be worth it."

"."

Before long, after many twists and turns, a new vista appeared. When the outline of a county town built against the mountain came into view, everyone's eyes were filled with hope and excitement.

That's Qingshan County 1.

"We've arrived at Qingshan County. It looks more impressive than the other counties we've passed through."

"The ship is about to dock, everyone hold on tight!" someone shouted.

As the warship approached the waters of Qingshan County, some sharp-eyed people spotted armored soldiers on horseback riding directly across the river towards the warship!

"Ninth Mountain! It's the soldiers of Ninth Mountain!" Someone recognized the style of the armor as belonging to Ninth Mountain and shouted excitedly.

Immediately, the passengers on the ship became excited. Sure enough, there were troops from the Ninth Mountain here. Could that be the general? It seemed they had made the right choice in coming here to take refuge. They were overjoyed.

Under the watchful eyes of the passengers on the ship, a member of the Ninth Mountain Green Armor rode a black horse straight towards the ship, his hooves pounding the shimmering water as if crushing golden scales.

When they were still a dozen or so feet away, the armored warrior pulled on the reins, and the strange horse neighed and reared up.

"Sorry"

Then, a pair of cold eyes flashed beneath the blue-armored helmet as he took out the Ninth Mountain Waist Token.
"I am the Ninth Mountain Commander!"

"Anyone without a travel permit from Qingshan County is strictly prohibited from entering the city. Anyone who dares to disobey will be executed!"

These words immediately dampened the spirits of those who thought they had found the right place. They had traveled a long way, only to be turned away with a single sentence, leaving some resentful.
"Why should we? We finally made it here, and now there's war everywhere. Shouldn't your Ninth Mountain protect us, the people of Shu? You're tarnishing the reputation of the Martial Saint General of the Ninth Mountain!"

“Yes, if we can’t even enter the city, then we’ve come all this way for nothing. We came here specifically for your Ninth Mountain,” someone chimed in.

Everyone chimed in, expressing their dissatisfaction.

Some people seemed to have a lot of status, stepping out from the crowd and bowing with their hands clasped in greeting.
“Sir, the Northern Liang has started an uprising and is besieging our gates in the north, the demonic tide is rising in the west, and the demons have reappeared in the Ten Thousand Mountains in the south. We are all just looking for a way to survive. We are grateful for the reputation of the former Nine-Handed General who protected the people of Shu. We have come here specifically to seek your help. We hope you will make an exception for us.”

It's always better to say nice things than harsh words. You can't hit a smiling face. Besides, you should know who's behind the soldier in front of you. They're not people you can mess with.

But then they saw the blue-armored soldier reining in his horse and pacing back and forth, his cold glint in his eyes slightly diminished, but his tone remained somber.

“You have sought refuge in the wrong place. Rampant criminals from the Northern Liang are constantly attacking Qingshan County and slaughtering the people in the city.”

"Our Ninth Mountain is under martial law, clearing out bandits. No one who is not from this county is allowed to enter the city. Military orders are absolute and cannot be changed."

"If you want to seek refuge, you can go to the neighboring county towns, but you must not go near Qingshan County. If you are thinking of sneaking into the city from the mountains and forests on the shore, I advise you to give up your idea. After all, the Northern Liang bandits have infiltrated the mountains and forests outside the city. My Ninth Mountain is currently cracking down on them. Swords have no eyes. If you are mistaken for Northern Liang bandits, it is not worth the risk of life and death."

After the captain finished speaking, he didn't give the people on the boat a chance to speak. He pulled on the reins, turned his horse around, and with a "clatter, clatter," waded away across the water towards the shore.

On the ship, the passengers looked at each other in bewilderment, and then a murmur of discussion and complaints arose.

"What? People from Beiliang are causing trouble in Qingshan County, killing innocent civilians. Martial law has been declared?"

"That's right. The King of Beiliang rebelled because he was driven to desperation by our Martial Saint General. It seems this place is not a safe haven after all. Let's get out of here."

"Are we just going to leave like this? We've come all this way, where are we going?"

"."

Shortly afterward, the ship was persuaded to leave and turn back!

On the bridge at the dock in Qingshan County, soldiers stood solemnly. The river breeze swept across the wooden bridge, and waves lapped against the bridge piers, creating splashes several feet high. Two magnificent horses stood quietly at the bridgehead, their manes ruffled by the wind, their hooves firmly planted on the creaking bridge planks.

On the left, a man in fiery red robes rode a large horse. The wind howled through the horse's robes, revealing a long sword slung diagonally across his back. The scabbard was dark and obscured by the sunlight. On the right, another man rode a large horse in crimson armor. The edges of the armor plates were worn smooth and gleaming, exuding the somberness of someone who had been through many battles.

The two stood side by side in silence, their gazes drifting into the distance, fixed on the river several miles away. A large ship was slowly sailing away, its sails billowing, yet unable to conceal the heavy, rumbling sound of its hull cutting through the water. The ship's silhouette gradually shrank.

When they were almost out of sight, the man in the red armor spoke.
"What does Captain Lian think? Does he think I'm being unreasonable?"

The one who spoke was Yun Tiansheng, who was in charge of patrolling the dock. At this moment, he turned his gaze to Lian Nishang, the woman in red next to him.

Those people sought refuge in the name of the Ninth Mountain, but he ordered them to be persuaded to return, which was indeed somewhat inhumane in people's eyes.

Lian Ni Chang's gaze slowly focused, her black hair blowing against her lips in the river breeze. She slowly shook her head.

“These people are not the first wave. If we order them to be received, more and more people will come, which will only cause chaos. Qingshan County cannot handle so many people, not to mention the possibility that there may be assassins from Beiliang among them. It would be better to take a clean break and explicitly prohibit them. This would be better for both sides.”

"Besides, the war hasn't started yet, so there's still time for these people to consider things."

Yun Tiansheng sighed, "Yes, the war hasn't even started yet. The soldiers on the front lines are still fighting and holding their ground to protect the people, while some people in the rear have already fled at the first sign of trouble. Although I know that it is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm, it may be because the position represented by this armor is different, and I feel a little uncomfortable!"

At this point, Yun Tiansheng seemed to realize that his words were contradictory, and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Lian Ni Chang didn't say anything; she understood that feeling.

The two remained silent. The river wind howled, the setting sun cast its glow, and only the waves crashed against the shore.

A moment later, suddenly, a white light flashed in the void several feet above the dock, and then the void bulged outward like a mirror, as if something was about to emerge.

The next moment, a white light flashed, and a figure stepped out from it.

He wore a black robe with gold patterns, his white hair stood upright like frost, and he was not wearing a crown, but loosely tied up with a black jade hairpin. His face was deeply etched with the frost of time, and his eyes drooped down. His eyes had seen the ups and downs of life, and his gaze was like a torch, which fell on Lian and Yun.

Lian Ni Chang looked up and felt a startle as she felt that gaze that was impossible to look directly at.

When Yun Tiansheng saw the newcomer, he was surprised, but not so much that he turned pale. This person was not on Yunding Mountain, but had come here instead.

The soldiers on the bridge, seeing the unusual scene, assumed something was wrong and drew their swords, shouting and preparing for battle. But when they saw the old man, they exclaimed in surprise and recognized him.

Yun Tiansheng had already dismounted, his gaze slightly narrowed, and he bowed respectfully upwards.

"See the Imperial Preceptor!"

Lian Ni Chang's eyes flickered slightly, her heart trembling. So this was the Imperial Preceptor, who held great power in Shu. She had heard that he had become a Martial Saint long ago and seemed to be at odds with her brother. Her brother had mentioned him last time, expressing some dissatisfaction.

But she didn't neglect her manners; she got down, cupped her hands in a respectful gesture, and bowed her head.

Helian Shan lowered his gaze and fell on Yun Tiansheng. He vaguely remembered that this young general was a cavalryman under Chen Yuan, but he couldn't remember his name.

"I want to see your general. Take me to him."

Upon hearing Helian Shan's words and hearing his personal arrival, Yun Tiansheng, despite feeling immense pressure, managed to suppress the aura of authority emanating from him, remaining neither servile nor arrogant.
"Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, my general is currently in seclusion cultivating supernatural powers. He gave orders before going into seclusion that he should not be disturbed!"

Upon hearing this, Helian Shan did not erupt in anger as he had in the main hall before; instead, his expression remained unchanged, and his voice carried an indifferent tone.

"No need for prevarication. Your general isn't in seclusion. I'm looking for your general. I'll just say one word and leave. Lead the way."

Seeing this, Yun Tiansheng realized that this person, a dignified Grand Secretary of three dynasties and a Martial Saint, had come in person and said so. If he were to refuse again, it would not be a matter of etiquette.

"In that case, sir, please follow me!" Yun Tiansheng withdrew his hand, raised his head, and said. (End of this chapter)