Chapter 395 - 235: The Xiangzhou Situation

Chapter 395: Chapter 235: The Xiangzhou Situation

"You have the final say on matters in the Songjiang Prefecture Taiping Bureau. If you need any cooperation from the capital, just send me a message, and I’ll figure out how to coordinate resources for you,"

Fu Qingzhu said.

Compared to other places, the Xiangzhou Taiping Bureau was quite peaceful.

They chatted for a bit longer. Fu Qingzhu enthusiastically offered to host a banquet for Su Mu, but Su Mu politely declined.

As he was leaving the capital, Su Mu saw the young man he had beaten gather a group of people. They were crowded around the entrance of the Government Office, crying foul.

This was the way of the Xiangzhou people.

Su Mu suddenly had a glimmer of understanding. Perhaps Zhu Jiuyuan had placed the Demon Court’s demons in Xiangzhou precisely so these people could see what demons were really like.

After watching Fu Qingzhu dismiss the crowd with just a few words, Su Mu and his companions didn’t linger in the capital.

Just as Su Mu and his companions were leaving the Xiangzhou Capital City, several messenger Profound Eagles launched into the sky from within the city, heading in the direction of Songjiang Prefecture.

...

Within Songjiang Prefecture, a beautifully decorated pleasure barge drifted slowly along the river. The cabin, illuminated as bright as day by several Luminous Pearls, held seven or eight people seated around a round table.

"The new Taiping Bureau Governor, Su Mu, is already on his way,"

one of the middle-aged men said gravely. "He should arrive in Songjiang Prefecture within a few days.

It’s time for all of you to decide what attitude we will take toward him."

"Brother Wenren, the Taiping Bureau deals with slaying demons. That has nothing to do with us. We should stay out of each other’s way. There’s no reason to provoke him, is there?"

another middle-aged man said dismissively.

These men were all local dignitaries and influential gentry of Songjiang Prefecture—people of wealth and high status.

The man who had spoken first was from the Wenren Family—a clan uncle of Wenren Jiangbo.

Everyone knew of the feud between the Wenren Family and Su Mu, and they had no desire to get mixed up in it.

"Do you think it’s that simple?"

Wenren Yuan sneered. "As far as I know, Su Mu isn’t just coming to Songjiang Prefecture to serve as the Taiping Bureau Governor. He has another task.

And that is to build a Bailu Academy in Songjiang Prefecture!"

"Gentlemen, surely you know what the Bailu Academy represents?"

Wenren Yuan’s gaze swept over the men. "The Bailu Academy is a sacred place for Da Xuan Scholars. If he gets control of it, will the scholars of Songjiang Prefecture ever have a chance to make a name for themselves?"

The men’s brows furrowed, their faces showing thoughtful expressions.

"He’s only responsible for the construction. He won’t have a say in the Academy’s other affairs, will he?

From what I’ve heard, the Mountain Master of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy is still the venerable Zhu Jiuyuan."

one of the wealthy gentlemen said.

"Besides Lord Zhu Jiuyuan, the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy has another Mountain Master, Liang Jinglue.

And do you know who Liang Jinglue is? He is the Demon Court’s National Preceptor!"

Wenren Yuan sneered. "Any fool knows those two are just figureheads. They certainly don’t have time to manage the daily affairs of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy.

So, who do you think will really be in charge of the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy?"

"Su Mu? Surely not—"

the men said, hesitating.

"There’s no reason he can’t be,"

Wenren Yuan said. "If that weren’t the case, why would the imperial court put him in charge of building the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy? Is there no one else in all of Songjiang Prefecture?"

"Even if that’s true, what can we do? He’s the Taiping Bureau Governor, after all,"

one man said with a frown.

"We definitely can’t use brute force,"

Wenren Yuan sneered. "But if Su Mu thinks he can just come here and lord it over us Xiangzhou people, we can’t let him get his way."

"Brother Wenren, what are you planning to do?"

the men asked.

"Isn’t he in charge of building the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy?

Building an academy requires silver, workers, and construction materials, right?

If he has none of those, can he just conjure a Bailu Academy out of thin air?

From this moment on, no one in Songjiang Prefecture will take a job from him or sell him construction materials. Once he fails to complete his mission, we’ll see him scurry out of Songjiang Prefecture in disgrace!"

Wenren Yuan said.

"Will that work?"

the men said thoughtfully.

"Of course. Even the Taiping Bureau can’t force a transaction. As long as we’re united, we can definitely prevent him from gaining a foothold in Songjiang Prefecture,"

Wenren Yuan said with confidence. "So what if he’s good at fighting and killing? This is Xiangzhou. We won’t compete with him when it comes to brute force.

If he fails to build the Bailu Academy, the imperial court is bound to punish him."

The men thought it over for a moment and nodded one by one. If it was just a matter of stonewalling Su Mu in these areas, they were willing to give it a try.

After all, Wenren Yuan was right. Letting a mere Martial Artist lord it over them, the distinguished people of Xiangzhou, was an intolerable humiliation.

...

Songjiang Prefecture Government Office.

The Prefect of Songjiang Prefecture holds a position equivalent to the Wuling City Lord and is responsible for the daily administration of the area.

The current Prefect of Songjiang Prefecture, Li Dangsen, was a native of Xiangzhou.

He was currently sitting in his study, a slip of paper in his hand and a thoughtful look on his face.

"Governor Su has already reached the capital city?"

he said slowly.

"Yes. At his speed, he should arrive in Songjiang Prefecture by tomorrow at the latest,"

his Master beside him said. "We just received word that the new Inspector of the Inspection Bureau is Wu Yiqi, a True Disciple of the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect and a member of the Wu Family.

He previously served in Wuling City, so he and Governor Su should be old acquaintances."

"What is the Wu Family up to? Wasn’t Wu Yifan captured by the Taiping Bureau? Could it be they’ve sent Wu Yiqi to Songjiang Prefecture for revenge?"

Li Dangsen rubbed his brow, feeling a massive headache coming on.

’When gods fight, mortals suffer. I just want to be a Prefect in peace. I don’t want to get involved in this pointless mess.’

"Hard to say,"

the Master said, shaking his head.

No one outside the parties involved knew of the agreement between the Wu Family and Su Mu.

As far as anyone else was concerned, the Wu Family and Su Mu should have been mortal enemies.

"Lord of the Prefecture, the imperial court wants to build the Bailu Academy in Songjiang Prefecture. The silver required for that will likely have to be drawn from the prefecture’s coffers,"

the Master said. "Governor Su is in charge of this project, and he will be here soon. What do you say? Do we agree, or do we refuse?"

"What silver does Songjiang Prefecture have?"

Li Dangsen’s voice instantly rose. "We have none! Not a single spare tael of silver!"

"And if Governor Su asks us for silver?"

the Master asked.

"Plead poverty,"

Li Dangsen said. "In terms of attitude, we will show our full cooperation. As for anything else... well, our abilities are limited. We’re willing to help, but powerless to do so.

Since the imperial court entrusted this matter to Governor Su, it means they have faith in his abilities. I’m sure he can resolve it on his own."

"Understood,"

the Master nodded. "Governor Su is new to the area. Should we arrange a welcoming banquet for him?"

"That’s a must. But make a note of something: it must highlight the hardships of our Songjiang Prefecture. Make sure Governor Su gets enough to eat, but he absolutely must not eat *well*,"

Li Dangsen said.

"Rest assured, Lord of the Prefecture. I’ll handle it perfectly,"

the Master said with a smile.

...

In a dark room somewhere in Songjiang Prefecture, several people were gathered together.

They hadn’t lit any lamps and sat in the darkness, their faces obscured and indistinct from one another.

"That man, Su, has already reached Xiangzhou Prefecture City. He will arrive in Songjiang Prefecture by tomorrow at the latest,"

one of them whispered. "Li Tingkui isn’t in Xiangzhou. This is the perfect time for us to avenge the Young Sect Leader!"

"Assassination is a crude tactic. I still believe we should take our time and plan this carefully,"

another person said. "Before long, the Demon Court will be sending people to Songjiang Prefecture to study. When that happens, we can join forces with them to make our move."

"I think you’ve just lost your nerve because of that Su fellow. You do it your way, I’ll do it mine. We’ll see who manages to kill Su Mu first,"

the first speaker said coldly.

’The Sect Leader himself said that whoever kills Su Mu can take his place and become the next Cyan Lotus Envoy.’

"Fine. We’ll make preparations on two fronts. If one fails, the other will still have a chance.

He killed our Young Sect Leader. We of the Pure Land Sect cannot allow him to live so freely,"

the other person mused for a moment before speaking slowly.

"The day he enters Songjiang Prefecture—tomorrow—will be the day he dies. I will show the world the price for offending our Pure Land Sect.

You just keep being a coward, hiding in your shell and playing your little undercover games."

The first speaker sneered, a sharp glint in his eyes, as if the position of Cyan Lotus Envoy were already his for the taking.