Witch Wind

Chapter 165: Just Justice (Part )

At the berth of the British Navy, dozens of battleships sounded their whistles one after another as if they were having a seizure.

They were like a relay singing competition. As soon as the whistle of one train stopped, the next one suddenly sounded. While the whistle of this train was still echoing on the river, the next one could not wait and let out a loud cry.

The International Court of Justice is only separated from the river by a riverside road.

The nearest naval berth is less than a hundred feet away.

The sound of the whistle was like the roar of cannons, which frightened Jin Santan and other high-ranking officials of the Dayu Dynasty into a state of panic. They sweated profusely, and many of them were trembling with fear, and even showed signs of losing their balance and falling to the ground.

Jin Santan was a provincial governor after all, and he knew that these foreign masters would never kill them here. These warships were mostly for deterrence, and they couldn't really fire at them. That was the problem. If they didn't fire at them, what if the warships went upstream and fired at the big cities along the river in other provinces?

The blame lies entirely with Jin Santan.

According to the current national conditions of the Dayu Dynasty and the conduct of the people in the dynasty, if Jin Santan allowed these Yingji warships to leave their berths today, even if he only fired one shot, he would be "provoking border disputes without authorization" and "maliciously provoking friendly countries."

Confiscate the property and exterminate the entire clan!
Jin San sighed and laughed. He coughed lightly and acted like a high-ranking official of the Great Yu Dynasty: "Well, I owe the country a debt of gratitude and I should act on behalf of the people. No matter how wronged the case is, since it has been presented to me, I will handle it impartially."

Xing Tianli smiled and said, "Governor, the person I want to sue is also a senior official of the imperial court, a nobleman conferred by the Empress Dowager. You should listen carefully to what I said before."

Jin Santan smiled reservedly: "I heard it clearly, I heard it sincerely, I heard it clearly. You want to sue Pingbo Bo Xing Tianqingshu... You want to sue Xing Tianqingshu... It has nothing to do with anyone else in this dynasty!"

He emphasized the word "irrelevant" with solemnity and caution.

Jin Santan put his hands behind his back and said solemnly: "Mr. Qiao Peter, please remember one thing. The Queen Mother of our dynasty and Her Majesty the Queen of your country have a good friendship."

Joe Peter's expression changed slightly.

He coughed lightly, "Of course, I will never forget this. I even know that our noble Queen once sent a collection of sonnets she wrote when she was young but never published to your Queen Mother for appreciation. And your Queen Mother also sent a collection of her own palace poems when she was young, as well as 108 essays describing the beautiful scenery of the Dayu Dynasty Imperial Garden, to our noble Queen."

"Afterwards, your country translated and compiled the poetry collection of our empress and published it throughout the country, and we also published the collection of your empress dowager's works and distributed it to the public throughout the Western Continent. Both collections of works caused a sensation and sold over 10 million copies. Such a grand event is enough to become a symbol of the friendly diplomatic relations between you and my two countries."

Jin Santan smiled and nodded: "So, no matter what happened, whether it was a grievance or something else, the matter can only be blamed on Pingbo Bo Xing Tianqingshu. No matter how great the crime is, it is my fault."

Peter Qiao looked at Xing Tianli helplessly.

Xing Tianli nodded indifferently and presented to Fisherman his birth certificate authenticated by officials from many countries, as well as the certificate signed by Augustus and stamped with the seal of the Queen's Plenipotentiary Envoy.

Fisherman quickly glanced at the documents handed over by Xing Tianli.

He didn't see a single word on the document. He just inexplicably remembered that during the time when he was serving the subpoena to Jin Santan and when Jin Santan brought his men to the International Court, he hurried back to his temporary residence and saw the scene of the one ton of gold nuggets with his own eyes.

Before his eyes, huge nuggets of natural gold were sparkling with the loveliest and most charming light in the world. This light was even brighter than the body of the young maid in his house when he first saw it at the age of fourteen, and was filled with an even more incredible charm.

He picked up the gavel and slammed the case hard.

"Then, the Most High and Merciful Mother, the evidence provided by Mr. Xing Tianli is very detailed and has been unanimously certified by officials from various countries. In view of the identities of the gentlemen who signed their names on this document, their excellent character and behavior, and their recognized, pure and beautiful moral standards."

"Of course, I also have my personal trust in Mr. Xing Tianli's most beautiful, noble, flawless, and pure moral integrity in the world. I declare that according to the international law, especially the "Nobility Law" jointly upheld by all countries in the Western Continent... Mr. Xing Tianli is undoubtedly the only heir to His Excellency Xing Tiantongming, the Earl of Pingbo in the Dayu Dynasty."

"Mr. Xing Tianli, you shall naturally inherit everything that Mr. Xing Tiantongming has. Whether it is the title, official position, or all the property."

Fisherman slammed the gavel hard, waking up the frowning Jin Santan: "Governor, what is your opinion?"

Jin Santan let out a breath slowly.

He pondered for a moment, walked to Fisherman's desk, picked up the certificate presented by Xing Tianli, and looked at it carefully.

The original birth certificate of Xing Tianli in the Yingji Hospital left by Xing Tian Tongming; the statement written by Xing Tian Tongming himself and sealed with his seal that Xing Tianli was his only legal heir, or in other words, surviving relative; and the authentication document jointly signed by officials from various countries under the leadership of Augustus.

Xing Tianli's original birth certificate.

Xing Tiantongming's handwritten instruction manual.

These two documents are unimportant. Jin Santan can easily say that these are forged documents - Jin Santan knows many experts in the cultural relics and antiques business. They can make a paper book look like it was written by a famous calligrapher hundreds or thousands of years ago, and then let the nouveau riche buy it back at extremely high prices.

As long as necessary, Jin Santan can produce a basket of such certificates and instructions within half a month.

However, the document jointly signed by Augustus and consular officials of many Western countries...even if Jin Santan had the guts to do it, he would not dare to forge it, and he would not dare to question the document in any way.

"This matter is of great importance. I, your Excellency..." Jin San sighed heavily.

He began to secretly hate Xing Tianqingshu, this damn guy. Why did his official residence fall within his jurisdiction?
Xing Tianli looked at Jin San curiously and sighed: "Mr. Governor, you dare not make a decision on the spot. Do you still want to exchange letters with Fentian City and drag this case on indefinitely?"

"Or, do you want me to bring these documents, trouble Joe Peter, Greenman and other consuls to come, and bring those warships outside to visit Fentian City?"

"Could it be that you cannot make a judgment on this case, and you want me to bring the case to the Queen Mother?"

Xing Tianli pursed his lips with a fake smile: "I am not afraid of the long journey. This new battleship has a huge tonnage. It is stable and fast on the sea. It will only take a few days to land in Tianjin."

Jin San sighed and looked up at the sky.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, and he finally nodded slowly: "Well, this official has determined that, Xing Tianli, you are the only legal heir of Earl Pingbo. You should inherit Earl Pingbo's title and all his property."

With a bitter smile, Jin San sighed and shook his head, "However, this matter has been determined by this official, and it does not count. How noble is the title of the imperial court? This case still needs to be submitted to Fentian City."

Fisherman banged the gavel again.

The secretary at the side hurriedly handed over a ruling document.

"The International Court of Justice respects the administrative laws of the Great Yu Dynasty on the nobles... Therefore, we should follow the official procedures, and we have no intention of violating the relevant regulations of your country." Fisherman took over the ruling document and carefully reviewed it word by word from beginning to end three times. He signed his name on it swiftly, stamped his personal seal, and then slammed the ruling seal of the International Court of Justice on it with a 'bang'.

"Please take a look at this ruling document first. If you have no objection, please sign your name and seal it." Fisherman handed the ruling document with his signature and seal to Jin Santan.

Jin Santan looked at Fisherman with a gloomy face.

This damn foreigner.

What benefits did Xing Tianli give him that made him so diligent in helping Xing Tianli?

He was the governor of Jiangdong Province, yet he signed and stamped the ruling document without even taking a look at it?

This is too much of a lack of self-respect.

The high-pitched sound of the whistle reached his ears again. Jin Santan's forehead veins jumped a few times. He smiled bitterly and nodded slightly, saying, "Forget it, forget it."

After mumbling a few words, Jin Santan took the ruling document and examined it word by word. Gradually, his fingers began to tremble: "Mr. Fisherman, everything that Pingbo Earl Xing Tiantongming has, including his title, property, etc., shall be handed over to Xing Tianli. This official agrees with this."

"But, Lady Zhang, the wife of Marquis Pingbo, and her nephew Xing Tianqingshu..."

Xing Tianli interrupted Jin Santan and said, "Zhang Qingshu." Jin Santan was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly, "Yes, Zhang Qingshu. Hand Zhang and Zhang Qingshu over to Xing Tianli?"

Xing Tianli smiled slightly and looked at Fisherman.

Fisherman smiled and nodded, saying, "Governor, this practice is completely in line with the legal provisions of the 'Nobility Law' used in all the countries in the Far West. If any commoner offends a noble, the noble has the right to deal with them at will according to their own will."

"This power includes, but is not limited to, taking their lives."

Jin San sighed and held his breath in his throat, and was unable to catch his breath for a long time: "Zhang and Zhang Qingshu are the people of my Great Yu Dynasty. Why should we use the "Nobility Law" of the Far West Hundred Countries to restrict them?"

Xing Tianli raised his right hand and looked at Jin Santan embarrassedly, "Governor, I accidentally got a small official position in the Kingdom of Yingjishi. Even the Queen of Yingjishi's plenipotentiary envoy, His Excellency Augustus, has returned to his homeland and is applying for a Yingjishi title for me."

"So, what happened to me, that is, Zhang and Zhang Qingshu killed me, the only legal heir to the Earl of Pingbo, and persecuted my biological mother, is also reasonable and justified according to the "Nobility Law" of the Far West Hundred Countries."

Jin Santan looked at Xing Tianli in astonishment: "Yes, yes, you have an official position here in Yingjishi, and now you..."

Jin Santan's mind had become a mess. He had handled many cases involving foreigners, but those cases were very simple. It was nothing more than local peasants provoking the foreigners, which made the foreigners inexplicably surprised. When he judged the cases, he would directly put those peasants in jail and ask them to compensate the foreigners for their losses, regardless of the cost, until the foreigners were satisfied.

As long as the foreign masters are satisfied, the case will be settled, the situation will be stabilized, the world will be at peace, and the old Saint Empress Dowager can live in the palace without worries.

But this case.

Xing Tianli, a mere commoner of the Dayu Dynasty, actually holds an official position in Yingjishi, and may even become a Yingjishi noble? Is it really that outrageous?
Is he from the Dayu Dynasty?
Is he still an Ingish?
Ahem, according to the ruling document, Xing Tianli will also inherit the title of Earl Pingbo!

There were hurried footsteps, and several senior civil servants from the Yingji Consulate General ran in with red faces, like crazy. They completely ignored the traditional Yingji officialdom system and the most basic social etiquette. They looked at Xing Tianli with eyes that seemed to have seen a ghost, and rushed to Qiao Peter.

"Mr. Consul General, please read this telegram just sent from mainland China, signed by Her Majesty the Queen herself."

"This is a pre-announced telegram. The official document and the kingdom's envoy are on the way."

Peter Qiao looked at his subordinates with a puzzled expression. He took the telegram and glanced at it quickly. Then, he looked at Xing Tianli with a distorted face. The ten fingers that were holding the telegram tightly were trembling slightly.

"Xing...Xing Tianli...Your Excellency!"

Joe Peter used the official English language to address Xing Tianli with a formal title: "Please take a look at this telegram, especially the supplementary provisions above. If you allow..."

Xing Tianli took the telegram in confusion.

"Hmm? Her Majesty is so kind. I am now a rear admiral of the Ingish Royal Navy. If I am willing to pay, can I purchase the most advanced warships from the Ingish Admiralty? Including, but not limited to, the new battleships and aircraft carriers I have seen?"

Xing Tianli flicked his tongue and said, "Praise the Merciful Virgin Mary. Her Majesty is so generous. Major General?"

Xing Tianli curled his lips. What a stingy old woman! Don’t you regard the celestial being as a god?

I hold the Tongtian Yuling Banner and the fighting power of dozens of celestial immortals and ghost generals. Even if you have a hundred or a thousand battleships, I will smash them to pieces to use as nourishment for your cultivation. How can you, a mere rear admiral, get rid of me?

However, seeing Jin Santan's suddenly miserable face, Xing Tianli smiled with great relief: "Praise the kind and generous Queen. I am certainly willing to dedicate all my strength to help the Queen's glory shine in the West."

Well, the glory of Queen Ingish is enough to shine on the West, but don’t even think about it in the East.

As for how many people will die in the process of Her Majesty's glory shining across the West?

As long as those who died were foreigners, what did the number of their deaths have to do with Xing Tianli?

In the Tongtian Yuling Banner, there are millions of soldiers and evil ghosts crying out for food. They can't wait to be promoted to ghost generals, or at least become ghost generals at the earth immortal level, right?

So, how many foreign devils must die to satisfy the promotion needs of these brave warriors from the Qin Dynasty?

Telegram, there is a sequel.

Xing Tianli murmured, "Your Majesty, generous Queen, with the strong recommendation of His Excellency Augustus, in view of my outstanding contributions in Black Borneo, will you confer me the title of Viscount of the Empire?"

Jin Santan's face changed drastically again.

Bastard... When this guy was just an ordinary military officer, he borrowed the power of the foreigners to intimidate the officials of the Dayu Dynasty and threaten him, the governor of Jiangdong Province!
Now, he was actually conferred the title of Viscount by that damn old woman from the Kingdom of England?

The management of titles in the Kingdom of Yingji is extremely strict, and the conferment of titles is extremely rare. It is not like the Dayu Dynasty where there are countless empty titles of viscount... A viscount can dominate and do evil in Yingji's native land. Even as long as he is capable enough and good at management, a viscount is enough to greatly interfere with and influence the court movements of Yingji.

Xing Tianli became the Viscount of the Kingdom of Yingjishi. It is no exaggeration to say that if he ran to Dayu to appeal for justice in Fentian City in Kyoto, the Queen Mother would come out to appease him.

Once the old Saint Queen Mother is alarmed, then he will sigh three times... haha!
That old woman is not very kind-hearted.

Jin Santan, who has served this old woman for decades, knows deeply what kind of person this old saint is.

Jin Santan felt hot all over, sweating all over, and was anxious. He was ready to find the nearest telegraph office and quickly report everything that happened here to Fentian City.

He has no way and no authority to deal with things here.

The issue of succession to the title of Earl of Pinbo alone was enough to make him extremely anxious. Add to that the bargaining chip of Viscount Ingish, and he was going to die!
"Yes, additional regulations." Xing Tianli looked at the telegram seriously: "The title I was conferred is Viscount Black Pearl. Haha, this title is pitch black and doesn't look very good."

"Well, if I am willing to allow the Imperial Army to station in all major ports except Black Pearl Harbor, allow the Empire to enter the interior of Black Borneo to survey mineral veins, and allow Imperial merchants to enter Black Borneo to conduct normal mining and other matters... Count Black Pearl?"

"This supplementary regulation... If the Empire can station troops in the Nanyun Islands, establish consulates, and have extraterritorial powers, then I will be promoted from Earl of Black Pearl to Marquis of Black Cloud?"

"Black Cloud? A combination of Black Borneo and South Cloud?"

"It sounds like he has some flavor of an evil cultivator or the founder of the evil path... But, this title is not bad!"

"My military rank is symmetrical with that of Marquis Heiyun. I can also be promoted to Lieutenant General of the Royal Navy..."

Xing Tianli smiled brightly, waving the telegram in his hand vigorously, and said to the nervous Joe Peter with a smile: "Of course, I fully agree to these conditions. Not only that, I also hope that Yingji will send as many troops as possible to Black Borneo and Nanyun, and as many fleets as possible."

"Even, there is labor supplementation in this supplementary clause."

"Aren't they just serfs?"

"The natives of Black Borneo are stupid and uncivilized. They are serfs with no future."

"But Dongyun people are pretty good, right? Ten million? One hundred million? One billion?"

"As many Dongyun people as you want? We have enough... They are obedient and well-behaved, just like dogs. With a little training, they can be the best supplementary labor force. We have as many as you want." Xing Tianli smiled brightly.

Jin Santan's body shook.

Peter Qiao and a group of officials from the Yingjishi General Headquarters suppressed their jealousy and bowed to Xing Tianli: "Respected Marquis Heiyun, good day."

(End of this chapter)