Chapter 112: Ye Yu Revisits an Old Place, All Geniuses Are at Court

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Ye Yu Revisits an Old Place, All Geniuses Are at Court

Bazhou was right next to Tongzhou, not far, but traveling with a coffin meant they couldn’t pick up the pace even if they wanted to.

Pei Shaoqing could have relied on General Hei to leave the main group and press on ahead, but he would never do such a thing.

After all, how could a leader travel alone and risk danger?

Never mind that no one would dare kill a man of his status.

One always had to prepare for the unexpected.

’Didn’t I get rid of this body’s original owner all the same?’

The higher one’s status, the less one could afford to willfully take unnecessary risks. This was being responsible not only for his own wealth and prestige, but also for the comfortable lives of his subordinates.

To be safe, Pei Shaoqing had also sent two Jing’an Guard members ahead on fast horses to act as Scouts and survey the road.

"My lord, there’s a tavern on the roadside ahead," one of the Jing’an Guard members responsible for scouting reported, galloping back.

Pei Shaoqing looked back at the group and said, "Let’s pick up the pace a little. We’ll rest at the tavern before continuing."

"Yes, sir!" everyone responded in unison.

About a quarter of an hour later, Pei Shaoqing saw the tavern, standing alone on the side of the road. It was run by only an old man and a little girl of about ten.

It was completely empty, with no customers inside.

"This commoner greets the Baron of Pingyang. Esteemed sirs, please come inside." The old man knelt at the tavern entrance to welcome them.

Pei Shaoqing casually handed his horse to a subordinate and asked with interest, "Old man, you recognize me?"

"This commoner has never had the fortune of seeing you in person, but to be riding such a divine steed near Tongzhou and traveling with the Jing’an Guard, it must be you, my lord." The old man kept his head lowered and his back bent, answering cautiously.

"Rise. Bring out the best food and wine you have." Pei Shaoqing smiled faintly, then walked over to a long bench that Zhao Zilan had just wiped with a silk handkerchief and sat down. He asked casually, "It can’t be easy running a tavern here, old man. Not a single customer during a mealtime."

"We did! We had lots of customers just now, but your men drove them all away. They didn’t even pay their bills!" the old man’s granddaughter complained, pouting with indignation.

"Little Hong, quiet!" the old man scolded his granddaughter, his face pale with fright. He fell to his knees with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly. "She is but a child and knows no better. Please, my lord, do not be angry."

"Old man, please, get up." Pei Shaoqing stood and personally helped him to his feet. He glanced at the two subordinates who had acted as Scouts but didn’t criticize them. With a pleasant expression, he said to the old man, "My men have delayed your business. Please take this silver as compensation."

As he spoke, he untied the money pouch at his waist, took out a few small silver ingots, and pressed them into the old man’s hand.

"This... this is too much..." The old man was both shocked and delighted, stammering, "You don’t need to give me so much."

"When my lord gives you something, you take it," Chen Zhongyi said gruffly.

"Yes, yes, yes." The old man, startled, took the silver and bowed repeatedly in thanks. "Thank you, Lord Pei. You truly are a good official, just as the legends say. It is a blessing for people like us to have you in Tongzhou."

"If you truly wish to thank me, then hurry up with the food and wine," Pei Shaoqing said with a smile before returning to his seat.

Seeing how approachable he was, the old man relaxed and said with a smile, "Alright, right away, right away."

Little Hong’s round eyes widened as she glanced at Pei Shaoqing, then she trotted off to help her grandfather.

"For disturbing the civilians without cause, we ask for your punishment, my lord!" The two Scouts walked up to Pei Shaoqing, knelt on one knee, and pleaded for punishment.

Pei Shaoqing unfolded his fan and waved it gently. He glanced at the busy grandfather and granddaughter and said nonchalantly, "What crime have you committed? You did the right thing. A reward of ten taels of silver for each of you."

’My subordinates took the initiative to create a safe and quiet environment for me. How could I possibly reprimand them?’

’Let the subordinates handle the dirty work.’

’As the beneficiary, all I have to do is make a superficial gesture to compensate for their ’wrongdoing,’ and I get to harvest another wave of good publicity.’

’The bad deeds are all done by the subordinates.’

’Lord Pei is a good man; he was simply unaware.’

"Thank you for the reward, my lord!" The two Jing’an Guard members who had acted as Scouts were stunned for a moment, then, overjoyed, they bowed in unison to express their thanks.

Ten taels of silver wasn’t a lot. What made them happy was that their actions had pleased Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing said in a calm voice, "After you finish your meal, depart ahead of us and scout the area in front."

"Yes, sir!" the two responded in unison.

In the distant kitchen, the hard-of-hearing old man couldn’t hear the conversation. Watching the scene, he lowered his head and said to his granddaughter, Little Hong, "My dear granddaughter, did you see that? Lord Pei must be scolding those two men. He really is a good official who loves the people as his own children and is fair and selfless."

"But Grandpa, if they’re being scolded, why do they look so happy?" Little Hong asked, confused.

The old man, thinking he had it all figured out, said, "Lord Pei has a kind heart. He only scolded them and didn’t punish them, so of course they’re happy. They definitely won’t dare to make the same mistake again."

"Oh~" Little Hong came to a sudden realization and said with a naive expression, "Lord Pei is a good person, just like that big brother who helped us fight off the bad guys last time."

"Yes." The old man nodded. He also remembered Ye Yu and said, "I hope both Lord Pei and that young hero are rewarded for their goodness and live a long life. In this world, good officials and righteous heroes like them are few and far between."

The grandfather and granddaughter had no idea that Pei Shaoqing was not a good person, nor did they know that the other good person they spoke of was currently lying in a coffin under a tree outside the tavern.

* * *

「The following afternoon, they entered the territory of Bazhou.」

At a fork in the road, Pei Shaoqing split his forces.

Liu Yuheng would take one group to escort Ye Yu’s body back to the Iron Sword Sect, while he would take Zhao Zilan, Chen Zhongyi, and others into the city to find the local Jing’an Guard and investigate Cui’er.

"Giddyap! Giddyap!"

The group spurred their horses into a wild gallop.

Seeing General Hei from a distance, the guards at the city gate were both shocked and terrified, unsure for a moment whether they should block the newcomers or let them pass.

"Whoa!" While still several meters away, Pei Shaoqing pulled on his reins to stop and shouted, "I am Pei Shaoqing, Baron of Pingyang, here on official business! Make way, quickly!"

At that moment, Chen Zhongyi and the others galloped up to join him.

"Greetings, Baron of Pingyang!" Seeing the Jing’an Guard arriving right behind him, the guards had no doubt about Pei Shaoqing’s identity. They all retreated to the sides and knelt to welcome him.

"At ease." As the words left his mouth, Pei Shaoqing turned his head to the men behind him. "Once inside the city, do not gallop your horses and startle the populace."

’It’s not like we’re on some urgent mission, and this isn’t my own turf. I should show some consideration for the local officials’ pride. No need to offend a colleague for no reason.’

Chen Zhongyi and the others replied in unison, "As you command!"

"Hya." Pei Shaoqing nudged the horse’s belly with his heels. General Hei tossed his head, snorting two jets of hot air from his nostrils, and ambled slowly and proudly into Bazhou City with his head held high and chest puffed out.

Unsurprisingly, this drew countless onlookers.

General Hei clearly enjoyed the feeling, putting on even more of an air. His gaze was haughty, and he even controlled the distance and force of his steps to perfection.

"Brother Chen, go report to the Hundred Households Commander quickly," a local Jing’an Guard in the crowd said, turning his head to his colleague.

The Jing’an Guard with the surname Chen was a little touched that his colleague had given him the chance to report to the Hundred Households Commander and get noticed. "Thank you, Brother Wang. I’ll go right now."

Watching his colleague hurry away, the Jing’an Guard with the surname Wang waited until he was at a distance, then immediately rushed out, knelt on one knee in the middle of the street, and said with his head bowed, "Your humble subordinate Wang Peng of the Bazhou Hundred Households greets the Baron of Pingyang. I am not aware of the purpose of your visit to Bazhou, my lord. This lowly one is willing to lead the way for you."

’Reporting Pei Shaoqing’s arrival to the Hundred Households Commander first would have been a chance to get in his good graces, but how could that possibly be more important than getting noticed by Pei Shaoqing himself?’

An ordinary Jing’an Guard Hundred Households Commander, a Sixth-rank Official, ranked higher than a County Magistrate and held more power, with the Imperial Authority to execute first and report later. This was already considered a position of high status and significant power.

But while also a Jing’an Guard Hundred Households Commander, Pei Shaoqing also held a noble title, enjoyed the Emperor’s favor, and was the son of Marquis Weiyuan. The Bazhou Hundred Households Commander was far from his equal.

"Whoa!" Pei Shaoqing reined in General Hei and looked down at Wang Peng from his high perch. "Take me to the Hundred Households."

"Yes, sir!" Wang Peng rose to his feet, took a few steps forward, and said, "My lord, please allow this lowly one to lead your horse."

Pei Shaoqing could see that this kid was eager to get ahead.

He smiled and tossed the reins to him.

’I’ve always appreciated ambitious people and I’m willing to give them a chance. After all, as long as someone has desires, they can be used.’

’The ones I truly fear are those with no desires, who are content to just coast.’

Aside from stepping forward on his own initiative at the beginning, Wang Peng remained quiet for the rest of the way, not trying to show off again.

This, in turn, greatly increased Pei Shaoqing’s favorable impression of him. He asked casually, "How old are you, Wang Tiqi?"

"I am twenty-one this year, my lord."

"Oh?" Pei Shaoqing raised an eyebrow and followed up with another question, "How long have you been in the Jing’an Guard?"

"My lord, this is my third year."

"Wang Tiqi, you’re quite accomplished for your age, I see," Pei Shaoqing said with a slight smile, not hiding the surprise on his face.

The biggest difference between the Jing’an Guard and the Ming Dynasty’s Jinyi Guard was that positions could not be inherited. Therefore, the competition was fierce. If Wang Peng had no background, becoming a member at seventeen or eighteen proved he was exceptionally talented.

Wang Peng answered respectfully, "This lowly one is blessed with a strong constitution, so my talent in the Martial Arts is decent."

This indicated that he had gotten in purely on his own merit.

"What is your current strength?" Pei Shaoqing asked.

The preternaturally mature Wang Peng finally showed a flash of youthful spirit. He pursed his lips and answered, "Late-stage Qi Condensation."

Chen Zhongyi and the others all glanced at him in surprise.

In the Great Zhou, the true geniuses were all in the Court.

"That’s stronger than your Hundred Households Commander, isn’t it?" Pei Shaoqing said with a light chuckle, his tone tinged with amusement.

Wang Peng’s spirit immediately deflated. "How could this lowly one possibly compare to the Hundred Households Commander? He, like you, my lord, is a master strategist. Martial prowess is merely the icing on the cake for him. It is brainless brutes like me who need to rely on martial strength to make a living."

This was the strange beauty of the system and of power. Ability did not equal status. Wang Peng was just an ordinary Tiqi, while the Bazhou Hundred Households Commander, whose Martial Arts were inferior to his, held the rank of a Sixth-rank Official.

Were there Martial Artists who were dissatisfied with this situation?

Of course there were.

So what did they do about their dissatisfaction?

They cultivated diligently, of course. Once they broke through to the Grandmaster realm, they would have strategic value. The Court would then proactively extend an olive branch, bestowing upon them an official post of some sort and allowing them to ascend to the heavens in a single step.

After breaking through to the Grandmaster realm and becoming a beneficiary of the Court’s system, they would naturally no longer be dissatisfied with the Court. Instead, they would suppress those who were like their former selves.

Therefore, the Martial Artists who were dissatisfied with this system could never form an effective resistance. They could only live on, complaining about their fate, enduring it, and muddling through.

Another portion would choose to join the Profound Yellow Sect.

According to the Court’s narrative, the Profound Sect wanted to overthrow the current system and establish a nation where Martial Artists reigned supreme.

Of course, one couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Court was intentionally spreading rumors.

"Wang Tiqi..." Pei Shaoqing began to speak again.

Wang Peng said, "My lord, you can just call me Little Wang."

"Fine, Little Turtle. What’s your Hundred Households Commander’s name? And what is he like?" Pei Shaoqing asked.

Wang Peng’s mouth twitched, but he answered respectfully, "Our Hundred Households Commander’s surname is Zhou, given name Li. He has a gentle temperament and is exceptionally good at socializing."

Officials might not be good at their duties, but most were good at socializing—all of them were warriors tested by alcohol.

Pei Shaoqing nodded, then changed the subject back to him. "With your strength, Little Wang, you must have earned a lot of merit in the past two years. How come you haven’t been promoted?"

"Perhaps the Lord Hundred Households feels I am young and immature, and still need to be polished," Wang Peng said, his expression stiffening as he forced a smile.

A high-EQ answer.

Pei Shaoqing smiled and said no more.

After receiving the report from his subordinate, Zhou Li was surprised by Pei Shaoqing’s arrival. Although they were of the same rank, he decided to set aside his status and go out to meet him as a sign of respect.

But just as he stepped out the door, he saw Pei Shaoqing and his group arriving on horseback. Seeing Pei Shaoqing preparing to dismount, Zhou Li immediately put on a smile and quickened his pace to greet him.

Meanwhile, the Jing’an Guard with the surname Chen, who had been sent away by Wang Peng earlier, froze at the doorway when he saw Wang Peng leading Pei Shaoqing’s horse. He said nothing, but his heart was filled with a mix of complex emotions.

"Such a divine steed has long, strong legs. Please be careful, Baron of Pingyang."

Zhou Li came to the horse’s side and solicitously made a gesture of supporting Pei Shaoqing, as if he were afraid he might fall while dismounting.