Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: Unknown
Chapter Title: Gestures of Power
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Three cabinet ministers approached Chen Tang. Xia Canghai paid his respects.
"Lord Chen, the Xia family has no desire to be your enemy. It's simply that our family business is too vast, and there are always lapses in discipline. Please forgive the young master of our house."
Chen Tang remained composed and returned the courtesy.
"I wouldn't dare."
Gao Quan stepped forward with a hearty laugh.
"Lord Chen, you've handled the Ministry of Revenue masterfully, and your son-raising is no less impressive. Like father, like son—like father, like son!"
Chen Tang bowed slightly.
"Lord Gao flatters me."
Yan Shuhe came to his side.
"What happened today—be magnanimous and let it go. As for the clansmen, I'll rein them in myself."
Chen Tang replied, "This official is filled with trepidation."
The three ministers departed.
Chen Tang watched them go, puzzled. He was about to ask Chen Shi about it when a voice called out.
"Lord Chen, care to take a stroll together?"
He turned toward the sound and saw a carriage parked not far away. The window was open, revealing the profile of the cabinet's Chief Minister, Zhang Fujing.
Chen Tang walked over. A servant promptly opened the door, but Zhang Fujing did not emerge. Chen Tang hesitated, then entered the carriage. Zhang Fujing invited him to sit, and the carriage set off.
The carriage rumbled along, departing the Grand Arsenal and heading toward the Ministry of Revenue. All along the way, Zhang Fujing said nothing, simply sitting in silence. Chen Tang sat opposite this elder statesman, equally silent.
……….
They arrived at the Ministry of Revenue's offices, and the carriage came to a stop.
Zhang Fujing finally spoke.
"Many people are just waiting for me to show my stance."
Chen Tang was momentarily taken aback, then understood.
"The Chief Minister riding with me and escorting me to the ministry—that's your statement to the world."
Zhang Fujing nodded lightly.
"Not enough."
He rose and opened the door for Chen Tang.
Chen Tang gave him a deep look, bowed, and stepped down from the carriage.
"Lord Chen."
Chen Tang turned. Zhang Fujing smiled. Chen Tang smiled back.
Zhang Fujing returned to the compartment, his smile fading as he closed the door. The carriage pulled away from the ministry offices.
He needed no elaborate words—just a few small gestures, a smile, a call of the name—to declare his position to all the factions in the capital. As a scion of a great house, he had to secure the maximum benefits for his family, but no less for himself.
His seniority was shallow; he couldn't compete with the former Chief Minister Yan Xizhi for the seat. To hold it steady, he needed another path. Before the Maker's Little Five arrived, Yan Xizhi had abandoned the Chief Minister position, leaving Zhang Fujing to take the blame and wear the black mark.
Now, with the thirteen great houses' ancestors recreating the Maker's Little Five, the two sides checked each other. Yan Xizhi wanted the throne back, but after all Zhang Fujing had sacrificed, how could he yield it?
Soon after, from the Gongtian Prefecture's vice prefects and administrators down to the instructors and supervisors, all were arrested. The charges: corruption and perversion of justice. They were handed over to the Eastern Depot and the Court of Judicial Review for interrogation. Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge submitted his resignation in disgrace and retired to his hometown.
In an instant, the court and the streets buzzed with shock and uproar.
On the third day of the Child Scholar's arrival in the capital, Gongtian Prefecture collapsed like a tree felled, scattering its monkeys—shaking things more than the Gongzhou demonic upheaval. The Gongzhou incident was just local officials wiped out, but this was the capital's Gongtian Prefecture officials entirely eradicated. The weight of the two groups of officials was not comparable.
Gongtian Prefecture oversaw the capital region's finances, punishments, state sacrifices, provincial exams, and metropolitan exams—a vast authority. All major and minor affairs outside imperial politics in the capital and surrounds fell under its purview.
The Gongtian Prefecture Governor was no post for just anyone; it required someone the court trusted implicitly.
Xia Jiuge hailed from the Xia family among the thirteen great houses. With his retirement, his successor would surely be from one of the thirteen as well, though the power shifts among them were opaque to outsiders.
Chen Shi returned home after a busy day at the Grand Arsenal. Chen Tang was already waiting.
"The meal is ready."
Chen Shi washed his hands and face, glanced at the table overflowing with dishes, and asked, "Blackie Pot made this?"
"How did you know?" Chen Tang was puzzled.
Chen Shi sat down with a smile.
"Blackie Pot thinks I'm growing, so he makes extra food."
Chen Tang fell silent for a moment, feeling his own cooking fell short of Blackie Pot's.
"How was it at the Grand Arsenal?"
"Wonderful. Everyone was very friendly."
Chen Tang nodded.
"Those fellows you tied to the rockets—what about them?"
"No need to worry. They've been dismissed and are under investigation."
Chen Shi added, "Their families even came to the Grand Arsenal to apologize to me."
Chen Tang fell silent.
After a moment, Chen Tang said, "Do you know why they fear you? Today, several cabinet heavyweights sought me out and treated me with great respect because of you. It wasn't like this before."
Chen Shi thought it over.
"Probably two reasons. First, the corpse cloud over the capital."
Chen Tang nodded slightly. The corpse cloud was the Maker's Little Five's doing, pressuring the capital to hand over the culprit who severed Chen Shi's Divine Embryo. The thirteen great houses likely knew the reason early, so they hesitated to act against Chen Shi, fearing it would unleash the Maker's Little Five in a slaughter.
"The second reason is something possibly inside me."
Chen Shi said, "When Grandpa pulled me back from the underworld, something might have come with me, hiding in my body. During the Gongzhou demonic upheaval, a beggar killed me, and whatever was inside acted up, causing a second upheaval. That might be why the capital doesn't dare move against me—it could trigger those things."
Chen Tang asked, "What things?"
Chen Shi hesitated.
"Probably a lot of demons."
Chen Tang's heart skipped.
"How did they enter your body?"
Chen Shi pulled open his clothes, revealing the bluish ghost hand on his chest.
"Probably through this ghost hand. Granny Sha, Uncle Qingyang, and Uncle Hu know about it, but whenever I ask, they hem and haw, refusing to explain clearly."
Chen Tang stared at the bluish ghost hand. It twitched faintly, like a living thing.
"Does it hurt?"
Chen Shi felt a warmth in his heart and smiled.
"It hurts. It's crushed me to death plenty of times, but luckily Grandpa, Granny Sha, and Blackie Pot have pulled me back repeatedly."
Chen Tang glanced at Blackie Pot sitting by the table and picked some food for it.
As father and son ate, Chen Tang said, "If you're unhappy at the Grand Arsenal, I can use my connections to transfer you out."
Chen Shi smiled.
"I'm very happy there."
"Don't take bribes."
"I haven't!"
The next morning bright dawn, Chen Tang headed to court early. Chen Shi took Blackie Pot out, arriving outside the Ministry of Works. Blackie Pot looked around curiously. Soon, a minor clerk hurried out. Chen Shi left, and the clerk followed.
Chen Shi sat down in a teahouse. The clerk sat opposite, glanced at Blackie Pot outside the door in surprise, and laughed.
"Yan Jiu of Luban Gate, at your service, Instructor!"
Chen Shi asked, "You're with the Ministry of Works? What position?"
"No official rank—just a clerk."
Yan Jiu explained, "We handle the building. No rank, just the labor. The ranked ones are the office heads, jail wardens, overseers—those who manage people. Us without family backing can't rise."
Chen Shi was stunned.
"Those who do the work can't become officials? What kind of logic is that?"
"It's the rule since ancient times. That's the way of the world."
Chen Shi said, "Where's your sect leader? I need to mobilize Luban Gate's power to investigate something."
Yan Jiu rose with a smile.
"Instructor, wait a moment. I'll notify the sect leader."
"Situ Wen is in the capital too?"
Chen Shi was surprised.
Soon, Situ Wen arrived at the teahouse covered in dust, glanced in astonishment at Blackie Pot guarding the door, hurried to sit before Chen Shi, drained the teacup in one gulp, and laughed.
"What urgent matter brings the Instructor?"
Chen Shi asked suspiciously, "Why is Tian Gong in the capital?"
Situ Wen laughed.
"Our Luban Gate disciples are everywhere under heaven. Half the Ministry of Works' laborers are our members. Our cultivation isn't high, but building city walls, defenses, forging treasures—we're the ones who do the grunt work. Business has boomed in the capital lately; I came to oversee."
Chen Shi recounted the search for Zhong Kui in Duxian County. Situ Wen laughed.
"Luban Gate has many disciples, including plenty in Duxian. Over the years, houses, funerals, grave relocations, bridges, roads—all need us. But for finding people, the Red Mountain Hall talisman masters are the experts."
"Red Mountain Hall?"
Chen Shi was stunned and blurted out, "When did Red Mountain Hall open a branch in the capital?"
Situ Wen said, "They established a branch here at year's end. The capital has no evils, but the outskirts teem with fierce ones. Officials send troops repeatedly to clear them, with little success, so talisman masters thrive on it. Thus, Hall Master Yu came at year's end to set up the branch."
He explained that Red Mountain Hall's Talisman Masters Association hadn't entered the city proper but operated in the counties and villages outside, enshrining Mazu to avoid official interference.
The capital had many skilled talisman masters serving as unranked clerks in the ministries' purification offices, as court stipends were meager. In their off time, they worked as talisman masters in the countryside, selling charms, slaying evils, earning a living.
Thus, Red Mountain Hall's Talisman Masters Association was even more prosperous in the capital than in Gongzhou.
The association was a mutual aid society for talisman masters—exchanging spells and arts, helping each other. Most clerks weren't from great houses, couldn't rise, lacked superior techniques, and couldn't advance in cultivation. Joining let them learn solid methods.
Situ Wen said, "Leave it to Zhuge Jian. In three days, he'll find that Zhong Kui for sure."
"Zhuge Jian's in the capital too?"
Chen Shi eyed him.
"Zhuge Jian comes to the capital, and you all— are you hiding something from me?"
Situ Wen shook his head.
"No. Zhuge Jian is now a hall master in Red Mountain Hall, came with Hall Master Yu for the capital branch."
Chen Shi gave him a half-smile.
"And Shao Jing? Has Shao Jing come?"
Back at New Township at year's end, he'd told Red Mountain Hall's talisman masters that Shao Jing was Heavenly Court's manager, asking them to relay to Yu Tiancheng.
Situ Wen laughed.
"Manager Brother's business boomed in New Township, but it's a small place. So he opened a Juxian Tower branch in the capital, on Nanjing Street. He said the Instructor's Soul Revival Pills sold like hotcakes but are out of stock. Hopes the Instructor can send another batch."
Chen Shi crossed his arms, sneering.
"So the Master is in the capital too?"
He meant Fu Leisheng, the tutor from Bridge Bay Town.
Situ Wen shook his head.
"The Master isn't in the city. He's teaching talisman masters at Red Mountain Hall's capital branch in Gaoshan County under the capital."
Chen Shi frowned.
"Who else came to the capital?"
Situ Wen smiled.
"The Heavenly Court's elders."
Chen Shi's heart jumped.
"Granny Sha? Uncle Qingyang? Uncle Hu? They've come to the capital too?"
Situ Wen laughed.
"Now they're guest elders at Red Mountain Hall's capital branch. We juniors can't fight, but the guest elders can pack a punch."
Chen Shi frowned. These lawless Heavenly Court folks had all swarmed to the capital.
Gaoshan County was under the capital, just over a hundred li away. The Grand Arsenal, due to powder explosion risks, was thirty li outside the city. The two places weren't far; travel was convenient.
Situ Wen asked, "Instructor, want to meet them?"
Chen Shi's eyes flickered as he smiled.
"Meet, of course. Tell them to come to the Grand Arsenal."
Situ Wen immediately found a talisman master, had him contact Yu Tiancheng to notify Granny Sha, Uncle Qingyang, and the others. Chen Shi paid the bill, and they left together for the Grand Arsenal.
Blackie Pot trotted after them.
Situ Wen glanced around and whispered, "Instructor, plenty of Heavenly Listeners eavesdropping on us. And the capital's factions have eyes everywhere..."
Chen Shi smiled.
"That's why Blackie Pot's with us. As long as they're not a master like Chen Tang, Blackie Pot can alter their memories and perceptions."
Situ Wen relaxed.
"What cultivation is Lord Chen Tang?"
Chen Shi shook his head.
"No idea, but not weak."
They chatted as they walked. Situ Wen cultivated the Dragon Squat Art and had made great strides since half a year ago; he was now at Incarnation Realm. He'd been at Nascent Soul peak before; with the complete Dragon Squat Art, breaking through to Incarnation was natural.
Chen Shi handed him a wooden box. Situ Wen opened it to reveal a treasure: a massive furnace over ten feet across, filled with thousands of mirror surfaces. Situ Wen gasped.
"The Hundred Refinements Hall's signature treasure?"
He quickly hushed. Hundred Refinements Hall had disciples in the Ministry of Works and influence in the capital. If they learned their Profound Mechanism Hundred Transformations Furnace was in Luban Gate's hands, it'd spark trouble.
Chen Shi asked, "Can the Hundred Transformations Furnace's forging techniques be applied to Luban Gate's mechanism treasures?"
Situ Wen could barely contain his excitement and laughed.
"Luban Gate was famed for forging treasures. When Hundred Refinements Hall split off, it gutted us. We still forge, but the legacy suffered. The Profound Mechanism Hundred Transformations Furnace and our mechanisms complement each other perfectly!"
Chen Shi smiled.
"Good."
They arrived at the Grand Arsenal. Soon, Granny Sha, Uncle Qingyang, and Hu Xiaoliang arrived too.
The Arsenal clerks knew this envoy had extraordinary backing—even the Gongtian Governor couldn't afford to offend him—so they didn't question Chen Shi's actions.
Granny Sha and Uncle Qingyang entered the Arsenal, eyes bulging as they touched everything. Hu Xiaoliang, timid, urged them not to touch randomly lest it explode.
Situ Wen stared wide-eyed, muttering, "These used to be what Luban Gate could build. Now the Ministry of Works makes them... Instructor, can we try a few?"
He stood before a man-high iron caltrop, looking to Chen Shi.
At his words, Granny Sha and Uncle Qingyang turned expectant eyes to Chen Shi.
Chen Shi laughed.
"I'm the Grand Arsenal Envoy—the Arsenal's things are mine. I'll write you a note authorizing it."
Everyone's eyes lit up. The deputy envoy broke into cold sweat, trembling.
"Sir, the inspectors won't be easy to explain to..."
"Then don't explain."
Chen Shi called toward the Arsenal gate.
"Blackie Pot."
A big black dog entered the Grand Arsenal. The deputy and clerks suddenly ignored the group. Chen Shi gazed at the countless firearms, his confidence surging.
"With Divine Granny, Heavenly Fox, Uncle Qingyang—the Heavenly Court seniors—here, plus all these firearms in the Arsenal, I'll see just how tough this 'can't fight' Zhong Kui really is!"