Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 511: Beneath the Veil of Loyalty

Di Muzhi arrived with perfect timing, as if orchestrated. Just as the camp had been fully set up, he arrived precisely on cue.

The soldiers began lighting fires and preparing food. Clad in scholarly robes, Di Muzhi sat in the command tent, drinking wine. A bonfire burned within the tent, with a personal guard roasting meat while two maidservants stood on either side, pouring wine for him. Around him, generals laughed and indulged in pleasure.

Di Muzhi’s long-serving aide, Xie Ruhai, stood at his side, along with another scholar whom Zhao Changhe did not recognize, seated in the main guest’s seat.

Zhao Changhe stepped into the command tent, his eyes surveying the scene with an impassive expression.

Are these scum seriously hosting a bonfire party in the middle of a military campaign?

“Ah, I wondered which esteemed agent of the Demon Suppression Bureau it was. So it turns out to be Zhao Changhe.” Di Muzhi greeted him with a hearty laugh. “Sit, sit—have you eaten yet? Join us.”

Without betraying any emotion, Zhao Changhe took a seat befitting status just beneath that of a guest of honor. “Prefectural Governor Di, do you know me personally?”

“Hah! Who doesn’t know the name of Blood Asura Zhao Changhe? Your name resounds across the Central Plains? Who wouldn’t recognize you? Young Hero Zhao, your close ties with First Seat Tang are no secret, either. It’s only natural for someone such as yourself to be an agent of the Demon Suppression Bureau!” Di Muzhi then warmly introduced the scholar in the seat of honor. “Let me introduce you to Sir Lu Shouyi, an envoy from the imperial court!”

Lu Shouyi, fully aware of Zhao Changhe’s sensitive standing, offered a broad smile, standing to clasp his hands in greeting. “Mister Zhao, your name is known far and wide. An honor, truly.”

“Likewise,” Zhao Changhe responded perfunctorily, clasping his hands briefly in return. He was inwardly relieved that he was not recognized as the Wang Daozhong from before.

But, as if reading his thoughts, Di Muzhi added, “Young Hero Zhao, did you know that Wang Daozhong came to see me just a few days ago?”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback. “A few days ago?”

Wasn’t it supposed to be over a month ago? And why would he suddenly bring up Wang Daozhong anyway?

Di Muzhi continued, “He was injured and pursued by Xue Canghai of the Blood God Cult, and he fled to Shu seeking my assistance. I had heard that during the Battle of Xiangyang, the Blood God Cult was conscripted by the imperial court, and that they even fought on behalf of the empire, correct? That was all thanks to you, wasn’t it, Young Hero Zhao?”

Zhao Changhe was even more intrigued. Good grief, Old Xue can now chase down someone from the Ranking of Earth? That’s pretty impressive... But how did Wang Daozhong get injured in the first place?

“Indeed, the Blood God Cult has been conscripted by the empire. What happened next?”

Di Muzhi responded, “Given that the Blood God Cult now serves the empire, while the Wang Clan has shown clear rebellious intent, and Wang Daozhong had only just broken out of prison, the imperial court is obviously seeking to apprehend a traitor. How could I possibly help Wang Daozhong? Of course, Young Hero Zhao, do not misunderstand—I would never openly offend the Wang Clan, but I chose to avoid him altogether. With Xue Canghai hot on his heels, Wang Daozhong had no choice but to flee southward, likely into Miaojiang... Did you not encounter him while coming here from the south?”

“There are countless routes that someone can take in this region. It’s hardly likely that I’d cross paths with him by chance,” Zhao Changhe replied casually, yet inwardly he felt a sense of unease.

Is Di Muzhi hinting that he knows I impersonated Wang Daozhong? But that doesn’t seem to be that important now.

Shi Wuding taking action a while back to apprehend Wang Daozhong was likely done under Di Muzhi’s orders. Di Muzhi’s stance had been consistent all along—he genuinely seemed to be acting on behalf of the imperial court against Wang Daozhong. Remarkably, this made him the most loyal among the many self-interested regional lords Zhao Changhe had encountered over the past two years. Even Cui Wenjing and Yang Jingxiu might not be as “loyal” as Di Muzhi.

Perhaps the real issue lay in those who saw themselves as officials of the Great Xia—people such as Di Muzhi.

While they spoke, a maid approached to refill the wine. Zhao Changhe lowered his eyes, observing the maid as she poured, and said coolly, “Forgive my bluntness, prefectural governor, but such conduct... hardly befits military regulations.”

“When in the field, the general’s orders are supreme. As the commander, the military discipline and regulations are mine to determine, are they not?” Di Muzhi laughed heartily. “Even Lord Lu has no objections.”

Lu Shouyi stroked his beard and smiled. “The soldiers endure hardships during campaigns. When it’s time for them to relax, they should indeed be allowed to do so.”

Zhao Changhe felt his face twitch. If the emaciated soldiers outside, eating moldy rations, were to hear this, they might want to shove that same food into your mouths. Keeping a neutral expression, he asked, “Strict military discipline isn’t for show. Prefectural governor, have you considered what might happen if you lose?”

Di Muzhi exchanged a glance with Lu Shouyi and asked, “Young Hero Zhao, you are the bearer of a jade token, after all. Perhaps you have some information to share on Miaojiang’s forces?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Lei Zhentang has successfully formed an alliance among the tribes. Around Erhai alone, the combined tribal forces number fifty to sixty thousand, with countless more across Miaojiang. The terrain is challenging, with poisonous miasma present everywhere, and their witchcraft is strange and unpredictable. Advancing deep into enemy territory will make maintaining supply lines nearly impossible... If I were in command, I’d deem it an unwinnable battle. I wonder what gives you all this confidence, Prefectural Governor Di.”

Di Muzhi lowered his voice. “Do you think they will launch an attack, Young Hero Zhao?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head. “The chances of that are slim. It’s difficult for us to advance, and equally challenging for them to break out. Moreover, if they do leave, they lose their geographical advantage.”

Di Muzhi clapped his hands. “Exactly. According to reports from the Miaojiang branch of the Demon Suppression Bureau, they aren’t united. They’ve formed some kind of Five-Tribe Council, which likely harbors internal conflicts and rivalries for dominance... making it even less likely that they’ll launch an attack.”

Zhao Changhe mused silently. Heh, this information must have come from Li Sian. No matter how much he might be helping Taoyuan Town with its affairs, his official duty remains with the Demon Suppression Bureau. Well, at least his report didn’t mention my involvement...

Di Muzhi leaned in closer, his voice lowered even further as he said, “Since they aren’t going to come out, why must we force our way in? It’s not something the forces of Shu can accomplish alone. We simply need to hold our ground—that itself is a major contribution. When it comes time to quell the rebellion from Miaojiang, the imperial court will send its own generals.”

Zhao Changhe’s heart gave a sudden jolt, and he finally understood Di Muzhi’s logic.

Miaojiang’s rebellion could very well be attributed to Di Muzhi’s oppressive rule, yet there were no witnesses left, as people like the pacification commissioner, Lan Tiankuo, had long since perished. What value did the slogans of rebel leaders like Lei Zhentang hold? It could all be dismissed as an excuse for rebellion. All of those were far from enough to shake Di Muzhi. Even if Li Sian had not made any reports, it could be debated in court. At the end of the day, the so-called extortion by Di Muzhi was hardly heavier than what Lei Zhentang and other leaders were doing themselves. It was difficult to define culpability.

Di Muzhi obviously had connections in the court. Lu Shouyi, from Fanyang, sat right beside him, enjoying his wine—an imperial envoy no less. This imperial envoy had likely been sent here to investigate the situation, but it was clear that whatever investigation he’d done was a farce. The two were clearly in collusion.

If Xia Longyuan were in charge, such deception would never fly, but Xia Longyuan was decidedly uninvolved. It was almost predictable that Di Muzhi would face little blame in the court, if any, and even that could be easily dealt with. Even a censure from Tang Wanzhuang would not matter much. The Demon Suppression Bureau’s power of oversight was hard to use openly, and on the surface, it lacked the formal authority for such actions.

In other words, what could very well be considered a calamity caused by Di Muzhi was being completely glossed over. Since the enemy could not break out, Di Muzhi would instead claim a “merit in defending the territory” and rise in rank.

How could he prove that forces from within Miaojiang attacked? He could easily dress the severed heads of murdered Xia villagers with the hairstyle of those from the region... Then, there you have it—proof of an attack by the tribes of Miaojiang, successfully repelled.

Di Muzhi, indeed, had no intention of rebelling. He was, in his way, a “loyal” official of Great Xia.

But such officials... bred countless rebels.

In just a few casual sentences, Zhao Changhe’s purpose in visiting Di Muzhi had been fulfilled. There was no grand scheme, no collusion with Lei Zhentang... Di Muzhi was even rather forthright about it, as though this was all something universally understood, a matter of course.

I even helped you deal with Wang Daozhong—I’m a loyal official, my stance unwaveringly with the imperial court.

Yet Zhao Changhe’s rage only intensified; veins bulged on his hand as he clenched his wine cup.

I schemed in Miaojiang, helped form the Five Tribes Council, and sheltered countless Xia people—all so you could pull off something like this?

And if I hadn’t been here? Would you have even cared if all the Xia people in Miaojiang were slaughtered?

Di Muzhi, keenly observing Zhao Changhe’s demeanor, sensed something was wrong and whispered, “Naturally, the credit for this accomplishment will include Young Hero Zhao... In addition, I’ve heard that Young Hero Zhao has been troubled by issues with your meridians. We possess some supplements here that might be of use...”

Zhao Changhe knew that he could not reveal his true emotions just yet. There was still one more question to be answered.

Suppressing his fury, Zhao Changhe slowly spoke, “Thank you for your generosity, prefectural governor. However, there is one more matter I’d like to inquire about.”

Di Muzhi seemed to let out a sigh of relief, smiling as he said, “Please, Young Hero Zhao, go ahead.”

“How much do you know about the matters surrounding the Bashan Sword Hut?”

Di Muzhi shook his head. “The Sword Hut has always been a renowned sect of Shu. They have extensive relations across many factions. I have no idea why they decided to relocate to Miaojiang. On that note, I’m curious—how did Sect Master Shi manage to offend you, leading to his death at the hands of you and Heroine Yue? The Sword Hut should be a righteous path, is it not?”

Zhao Changhe watched his eyes carefully and spoke slowly. “In truth, it was not us who killed Shi Wuding—or rather, we merely took advantage of an opportunity to kill him when he was already gravely wounded. Otherwise, how could Hongling and I have possibly killed someone ranked sixth on the Ranking of Earth?”

Di Muzhi smiled. “That’s still quite impressive... Do you know who wounded Sect Master Shi first?”

Zhao Changhe enunciated each word deliberately, “The figure ranked sixth on the Ranking of Heaven, the pavilion master of the Snow-Listening Pavilion, Snow Owl—do you know them, Prefectural Governor Di?”

Di Muzhi hesitated, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face, before waving his hand with a laugh. “The sixth on the Ranking of Heaven, the pavilion master of the Snow-Listening Pavilion—who wouldn’t know of such a figure? But I’ve never had the fortune to meet someone of such caliber...”

Zhao Changhe immediately understood. Not only had Di Muzhi met Snow Owl before; he even knew that Snow Owl could not have been the one to kill Shi Wuding!

Just as he was about to press further, he suddenly felt something akin to an earthquake from the distance.

Di Muzhi had evidently noticed it as well and immediately stood up, revealing a cultivation level on par with Zhao Changhe’s—perhaps even slightly superior.

He really has reached the second layer of the Profound Mysteries.

A messenger quickly entered the tent to report, “Prefectural governor, bad news! Thousands of enemy troops are charging toward our camp!”

“Thousands? We have over forty thousand here. Are they coming to die?” Di Muzhi exclaimed in shock. “Could it be that the Miao are actually attacking us? But why would they be coming from the east?”

“No, it’s not the Miao!” Another soldier burst into the tent in a rush. “We saw their command banner—it had a large character Li[1] on it.”

Di Muzhi’s face changed drastically. “Li Shentong!”

1. Li (厉) is Li Shentong’s surname. ☜