Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 441: Erhai

Li Sian was not really interested in investigating the tax silver robbery. Even though he was quite loyal to his role as an undercover agent of the Demon Suppression Bureau, he had no intention of helping his colleagues in Shu do their jobs, especially with Zhao Changhe around. Considering how close Zhao Changhe and the bureau chief were, whether Zhao Changhe chose to investigate the matter depended purely on his mood.

Furthermore, based on his intuition as a bandit, he speculated that Zhao Changhe might even be an accomplice to the robbery.

As they continued southward, with Zhao Changhe once again disguised as Wang Daozhong, Li Sian whispered, “Actually, the tax silver from this region’s Pacification Commission was lost once before, earlier this spring. The original plan was for the imperial court to send this silver down the river to support the southern campaign against Maitreya, but the silver never even reached Shu; it was stolen before it even got there. As a result, the Shu tax silver, which was also supposed to be sent to the south, has been held back for now.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes narrowed.

Was this all Li Shentong’s doing? Or is he simply thinking that if he doesn’t steal it, someone else would, so he might as well take it for himself?

“At that time, the bureau chief was at Taihu Lake, preparing for the final battle against Maitreya, and she could not spare the effort to investigate this case. The imperial court sent other officials to investigate instead, but in the end, they blamed it on bandits, and that was the end of it,” Li Sian explained. “During that incident, the local Demon Suppression Bureau had clues pointing to Li Shentong. They reported it to the bureau chief, but since Li Shentong’s status is no small matter, no one could truly search the Divine Brilliance Sect. And so, the case was left unresolved.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “I see...”

“Oh, don’t think the officials didn’t do anything, though. They used the excuse of searching for bandits to strip the land bare. Anyone who resisted even slightly was labeled a tax silver thief. Families were broken apart, and even those could be considered the lucky ones,” Li Sian explained. “Situ Xiao once killed several officials out of outrage over these injustices. The real reason he’s been traveling is to avoid the heat.”

Zhao Changhe felt an odd sense of dissonance. Was Situ Xiao trying to atone for the trouble his sect had caused?

After some thought, he asked, “Does Li Shentong fear Di Muzhi? Or is it just the imperial court he fears?”

“How would I know? Do you think Li Shentong would tell me?”

“...Then is there still a regional inspector in Yizhou[1]? I don’t think I’ve heard anything about one.”

“Regional inspectors only have supervisory authority. The true regional power is held by the prefectural governor. But it depends on the region. For example... Do you think the prefectural governor of Kuaiji holds more power than Tang Buqi? And that’s not even mentioning places like Qinghe or Langya.”

“...Who’s behind Di Muzhi? I haven’t heard of any aristocratic families in Shu on par with the Cui or Wang Clans.”

“There aren’t any. If you had to count one, it might be the Bashan Sword Hut. Didn’t I tell you before that many people in Shu have visited the Sword Hut to seek guidance on swordsmanship? Even the Di Clan has had people go there.”

Zhao Changhe nodded, then shook his head.

A single expert could not necessarily prop up a large faction, but a powerful faction would always have experts. Often, an expert can determine the outcome of a major conflict. Without top-tier experts to support them, large factions tend to decline quickly.

The master of the Sword Hut, Shi Wuding, had risen to sixth place on the Ranking of Earth after Maitreya’s death. There were only about a dozen people in the world stronger than him, making him fully qualified to act as the backbone of a faction.

However, Zhao Changhe still believed that if Li Shentong had any apprehensions, it would be toward Xia Longyuan. If he had any genuine immediate concerns, it would not be due to some Ranking of Earth expert unless there was someone else in Shu or Miaojiang who was capable of restraining his notorious temper.

For example, the mysterious figure ranked sixth on the Ranking of Heaven—Snow Owl, the master of the Snow-Listening Pavilion. No one knew who they truly were, making them a real wild card.

* * *

In fact, Miaojiang was just a general term. In reality, what Li Sian referred to as the Hundred Tribes was more accurate. The region was home to many different tribes, most of which were unfamiliar to Zhao Changhe, based on the knowledge he had from the modern world.

The local customs were not always the stereotypical singing, dancing, and warm hospitality. Many of the tribes practiced wild, primal beliefs, and tribal conflicts were common. To say they were not fully civilized would truthfully not be far off.

Geographically, the region was still largely undeveloped. It was not the tourist destination Zhao Changhe remembered from his previous life. Poisonous mists, insects, wild beasts, and dense jungles covered the region. The roads were rugged and narrow. The tribes were not particularly friendly to the people of Great Xia, and banditry was common.

The officials of Great Xia that were present in the area were merely pacifiers, and they did not carry any governing power. The tribes largely governed themselves, and there was not a Ranking of Heaven figure to unify the area. While there were a few individuals who were on the Rankings of Hidden Dragons, Man, and Earth, they did not get along, and the region was in chaos.

Ordinary merchant caravans would not dare trade here easily. Only traders like Li Sian, who were skilled martial artists, would take the risk. For Yue Hongling to seek refuge here was quite fitting. Even Xia Longyuan found this place frustrating. Conquering the area was one thing, but governing it afterward was another. Even the Sword Hut could not control the region and would have to rely on local forces to search for her slowly.

After half a month of arduous travel, Zhao Changhe and his group finally made it through the dense mountains and forests, arriving at a flat plain. They had decent luck along the way, encountering no bandits, but they did face plenty of venomous insects and wild beasts. Many members of the caravan were bitten so badly by mosquitoes that they looked as if they’d caught the pox.

This turned out to be a great opportunity for Zhao Changhe to gain experience with the Rejuvenation Art. Given his current mastery of the technique, it was particularly effective in dealing with these ailments. Accumulating experience in treating poisonous insect bites actually helped him improve the technique.

Although the journey was mostly without major danger, by the time they arrived, the entire group looked thinner, dirty, and foul-smelling. Even Snow-Treading Crow, Zhao Changhe’s horse, was in such poor condition that he could not help but think of a certain heroine’s ragged state.

All the romantic notions of the jianghu were complete nonsense...

As Zhao Changhe was wrinkling his nose at the thought, a vast lake appeared in the distance.

Under the sunlight, the lake shimmered like a sparkling gem, clear and pristine, as if it were a paradise.

The lake stretched long and narrow from east to west, seemingly endless to the north and south, with vast waves of blue that resembled the sea.

To the people here, this was the sea.

Erhai[2].

In the distance, the plains on both sides were lush with grass, where herders grazed their horses. The contrast with the rugged terrain they had traversed felt as if they had crossed into a completely different world. It was easy to imagine this as a secret realm, and it felt like nothing was impossible anymore.

Just the area surrounding the lake alone could sustain countless tribes. And this was just one small part of the vast Hundred Tribes. Beyond this lay even more expansive lands, with innumerable mountains, rivers, and lakes. Finding a single person here could take years.

Li Sian exhaled deeply. “We’ve arrived. Up ahead is a town where the various tribes gather and trade. Does it remind you of Huangsha Market? Oh, the Grasslands before you reached Huangsha Market, to be precise.”

Zhao Changhe was absorbed in the breathtaking scenery and couldn’t help but express his admiration. “I thought we’d be visiting one mountain stronghold after another once we got here, but it’s surprising how similar this is to places in the far north. It’s as if the gods split the same landscape in half and placed one part in the north and the other in the south.”

Li Sian laughed heartily. “The vast sea, boundless world; who knows if the Central Plains is but a speck in the universe, let alone north or south?”

Eh?

Zhao Changhe’s lips twitched. He had just tried to express an ancient sentiment and got shown up by this guy’s modern perspective. Of course, it was not truly a modern perspective, but rather the intellectual musings of those in this world, which made it even more impressive if anything.

Heh, two can play this game. Zhao Changhe quipped, “North or south, I define it. Whoever holds the power to define the world, holds the world.”

“Eh...” Li Sian gave him a glance but said nothing in response.

Zhao Changhe ignored him and began pondering where he could take a bath.

Noticing Zhao Changhe looking eager to dive into the lake, Li Sian grabbed him by the collar. “It’s not wise to bathe out in the wilderness. What if you run into horse bandits? Are you gonna fight them butt-naked while swinging your towel? Let’s get to the town first—there will be a place for you to wash up.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

The town, called Xizhou, was actually much farther than Li Sian had made it seem. They followed the coast, and it was not until dusk that they finally arrived.

Of course, being a proper town, it was naturally larger and more beautiful than Huangsha Market.

Where Huangsha was a barren wasteland, this place nestled between mountains and water, with birds chirping and flowers in bloom. It was less like Huangsha Market and more reminiscent of the serene beauty of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

The town was bustling, with a dazzling array of tribal clothing everywhere. Unfortunately, Zhao Changhe could not tell which attire belonged to which tribe. At first glance, they all seemed similar. Among them were many women dressed in short tops, baring their midriffs, strolling casually down the streets. The locals paid no attention to them, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

However, when the townspeople saw Zhao Changhe and his group leading their horses into town, the peaceful atmosphere became somewhat tense. People exchanged glances with one another, and it was unclear whether they were expressing caution or malice toward the people of Xia. Zhao Changhe could not help but furrow his brow.

“Hey, has Xia Longyuan ever committed any massacres here or something?”

“No, but he did kill a Ranking of Heaven figure who had crowned himself king here. It had caused the newly unified tribes to splinter into seventeen or eighteen groups,” Li Sian said, looking at Zhao Changhe with even more puzzlement. “Hey, have you still not learned much history? Didn’t the bureau chief teach you? What were you doing when she was teaching you?”

Daydreaming, obviously.

Zhao Changhe was tearful. Every time there was a culture or history lesson, he felt like sleeping. Was it his fault? No, it was obviously the teacher’s fault for not teaching well. These things should be told like lively stories about acquaintances, not as dry history. Otherwise, they just make people want to block their ears.

“So, the people here dislike us because we killed a king they revered?” Zhao Changhe asked.

“Killing the Black Hmong King will at most make the Black Hmong[3] unfriendly, but other tribes were thrilled to be able to govern themselves.” Li Sian then lowered his voice and said, “Besides, that was an old grudge. It shouldn’t be the cause of the current tension. The real reason for their hostility now should be the issues with the current Pacification Commission.”

Zhao Changhe nodded slightly, then asked, “What’s the story behind this Lei Ao?”

“He’s a bit of a hero, I suppose... Originally, he was just a leader of a small, ordinary tribe. He never made it onto the Rankings of Heaven, Earth, or Man, but he’s no slouch. He’s probably at around the eighth or ninth layer of the Profound Gate. In his earlier years, he dabbled in all sorts of trades here in this town. His bold and righteous personality earned him connections with many tribal leaders, and he slowly grew in power, becoming the dominant figure in town. He’s now known as Old Tiger Lei.”

Zhao Changhe was in the middle of sarcastically wondering why every local boss named Lei was always called “something-Tiger Lei” when their caravan arrived at a large tent.

A man emerged from the tent, his voice booming, “Ha! I figured the fourth brother would be arriving soon, and here you are. Uh... and who is this?”

Zhao Changhe glanced at the man. He had a full beard, looked sturdy and imposing, and exuded a fierce energy like a galloping horse. He certainly fit the image of an “Old Tiger Lei.”

But after meeting Batu, Zhao Changhe knew better than to underestimate these seemingly rough and brash figures. This guy could very well turn out to be much more cunning than he appeared.

Zhao Changhe put on a reserved smile, gave a slight nod, and calmly introduced himself, “I am Wang Daozhong of Langya.”

1. This refers to Yi Province or Yi Prefecture. It was a historical province of China covering its southwest. ☜

2. Also referred to as Er Lake, this is a lake in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan province. Erhai was also known as Yeyuze or Kunming Lake in ancient times. ☜

3. The Hmong are an indigenous group in East Asia and Southeast Asia. In China, the Hmong people are classified as a sub-group of the Miao people. The Black Hmong are a minority within the Hmong. ☜