“Impossible. Absolutely impossible.” Li Shun shook his head repeatedly in his heart.
When something deviates from the norm, it is almost always a sign of something sinister. Quietly, Li Shun raised his vigilance to the highest level, while paying even closer attention to Fang Xun’s every move.
At the same time, he did not hesitate to test him personally.
He began asking Fang Xun about matters related to the laws of the Great Qian more frequently.
Even when the statutes he brought up were obscure and deliberately tricky, Fang Xun showed no impatience whatsoever. He answered every question thoroughly, holding nothing back.
“My Lord, in the Great Qian Code, Section on Fiscal Administration, there is a statute that reads: ‘When state granaries and treasuries are handed over, grain, cloth, coin, and provisions will naturally suffer losses over the course of a year. Losses within the prescribed limit are exempt from punishment. Any deficit beyond that shall be treated as embezzlement of state funds. However, if there is an unexplained surplus exceeding the recorded accounts, the responsible official shall be dismissed, all clerks involved shall forfeit one year of salary, and each shall receive fifty strokes of the rod.’”
Li Shun adopted a puzzled expression at just the right moment.
“This subordinate truly cannot make sense of it. If there is a deficit in the treasury, it must mean someone has embezzled funds, so severe punishment is only natural. But if there is an unexplained surplus of wealth and provisions, would that not be a great benefit to the Great Qian treasury? Why is the crime of ‘unexplained surplus’ judged even more severely than embezzlement?”
Fang Xun glanced at Li Shun in mild surprise.
“Tui Zhi has been quite diligent in studying the law lately. You’ve already reached this section.”
After a brief pause, Fang Xun patiently explained,
“The key to this statute lies in the two words ‘without cause.’”
“The workings of heaven and earth, the balance of yin and yang, all follow a predetermined order. The Great Qian court governs the realm, and the rise and fall of all things must adhere to its principles. The central administration maintains a detailed ledger for the surpluses and deficits of every prefecture and county. This is what is known as the ‘Heavenly Calculation.’”
“If fluctuations fall within the scope of this calculation, regardless of amount, they are permitted. This is called ‘natural loss.’ However…”
“If a surplus appears outside the records, does that not mean that something strange and unpredictable has arisen beyond the court’s control? Faced with such an anomaly, how could the local magistrate escape responsibility? Naturally, severe punishment must follow.”
A look of sudden realization spread across Li Shun’s face. He cupped his hands and sighed in admiration.
“So that is the case. The laws of Great Qian are indeed profound and awe-inspiring.”
Yet at those words, something seemed to stir within Fang Xun. His expression flickered, and his earlier enthusiasm for discourse vanished. After dismissing Li Shun, he sat alone in the hall, his face once again clouded with shifting emotions.
After a long while, he let out a cold snort.
“Heavenly calculation and natural loss… how could they stand against a calamity without cause?”
Meanwhile, as Li Shun departed, his suspicions grew even firmer.
“This Fang Xun is hiding something. He is definitely up to no good.”
Yet Fang Xun conducted himself flawlessly. No matter how Li Shun observed him in secret, he could not find a single flaw.
The unease in his heart refused to fade, yet for the time being, he could find no way to extricate himself.
All he could do was continue cultivating Lengshan Grass within the Fangcun space, accumulating power for time reversal.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, the height of summer passed, autumn came and went, and before he knew it, the year’s end had arrived.
Half a year had washed over Lengshan County, and the devastation and piercing grief left behind by that overwhelming flood seemed to have been completely smoothed away.
Life returned to the city. The survivors once more bore hopeful smiles upon their faces. Although it was now the depths of winter, this year was unusually mild. The biting cold of past years was nowhere to be found.
Everything seemed to suggest that this land of suffering was truly on the verge of a turning point.
For nearly half a year, Fang Xun had been putting on an act. But at this moment, he finally found himself unable to keep it up any longer.
The reason was simple. He had just received a message from Yin Fengshuo, the Prefect of Lengshan County.
“What do they mean by, ‘Due to the destruction of the Great Qian official road, the incoming magistrate’s appointment must be delayed before he can assume office’?”
Fang Xun’s face shifted between green and red, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He reread the contents of the transmission again and again.
The official road he had casually destroyed in a fit of rage half a year ago…
still hadn’t been repaired.
“Those fools from the Mohist faction, what exactly have they been doing?”
A surge of frustration lodged in his chest, leaving him both shocked and furious.
“And what a fine excuse this is. ‘If a newly appointed official abandons the official road and travels by wild paths, it would violate protocol and diminish the dignity of the court, thus making it improper.’”
The reasoning sounded perfectly righteous, leaving no room for criticism. Even if the matter were brought before the court, the blame would never fall upon the yet-to-arrive magistrate. At most, the responsibility would be shifted onto the Mohist craftsmen in charge of construction.
“Calm down. The more critical the moment, the more I must remain calm.”
Fang Xun forced himself to steady his thoughts.
“By early February next year, I can shed my shell like a cicada and leave this post behind. There’s less than a month left…”
“Everything has already been prepared. All that’s missing is a scapegoat.”
The statutes and clauses of the Great Qian Code flowed rapidly through his mind like a rushing current.
In an instant, a plan took shape.
Not long after, he summoned the County Commandant, Cheng Yishu, into his study.
“Yishu, if I recall correctly, when I was demoted to this Lengshan County, you had already spent many years enduring hardship in this bitter land, had you not?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Cheng Yishu froze for a moment.
After briefly searching his memories, he cupped his hands and replied with emotion, “My Lord speaks truly. At that time, I had already wasted most of my life here in Lengshan County. If not for your promotion and recommendation, I fear I would still be nothing more than a lowly runner, struggling in the mud.”
“In that case, Yishu, would you be willing to strive for something greater? To take a step further? I do not mean within this tiny Lengshan County, but to cast off these shackles entirely and seek merit in a broader world.”
Fang Xun spoke in a measured tone, casually casting out the bait.
Cheng Yishu’s head snapped up. A flicker of uncontrollable heat ignited in his eyes. Lowering his voice, he cautiously asked, “My Lord… what do you mean by this?”
“You should know that in a few days, I will depart for the Sacred Capital to report on my duties. Although the immense merit from capturing the remnants of the Xiang Kingdom is still under deliberation and has yet to be finalized, I have made inquiries through various channels. The final appointment will most likely be a position in the Left Chancellor’s Office, within the Western Bureau.”
Fang Xun spoke unhurriedly.
Cheng Yishu’s body trembled violently.
“The Western Bureau of the Left Chancellor’s Office holds authority over the evaluation and promotion of civil officials across the empire. Once I assume the post, with a bit of maneuvering, transferring you out of this harsh land of Lengshan would be no difficult task.”
Fang Xun let out a faint sigh, deliberately revealing a trace of difficulty on his face.
“I have risen too quickly, achieving two great merits in succession. My ascent can be called meteoric. Yet the taller the tree, the stronger the wind that seeks to bring it down. Because of this, I have drawn no small amount of envy and resentment within the court.”
“I have been relegated to Lengshan for years, with little support. I am in urgent need of capable allies.”
With that, his gaze sharpened as he fixed it upon the man before him.
“Yishu… can I trust you?”