Chapter 51: The Great Qian, Past the Point of Cure

The son of the Minister of Revenue holds no official rank or real power, yet he is able to throw his weight around in Ziyang City, lording over others and ordering people about at will. Is this not a great tragedy for the Da Qian court? The collapse of court discipline, the rampant corruption of partisanship—reflected beyond the halls of power in local governance reduced to lawless chaos. How could such a court ever hope to rule the realm effectively?

To Jiang Chen, the farce unfolding before his very eyes was nothing less than a microcosm of a doomed nation. Shaking his head, he turned to leave, fearful that if he lingered any longer, he might not be able to restrain himself from intervening.

Behind him, the anguished cries of innocent citizens once more mingled with the soldiers’ heartless curses and the crack of whips—an appalling human tragedy played out in broad daylight, right in the heart of Da Qian!

Luo Tiancheng, noticing the dark cloud shrouding Jiang Chen’s face, stepped forward and said, “Brother Chen, I know you’re angry, but things like this happen almost every day. There is truly little we can do.”

“But in time, if I ever attain high office, I swear I will restore the integrity of the court and purge every last one of those contemptible leeches, those parasites who gorge themselves on the people’s wealth, from the government!”

“I don’t know when I’ll achieve it, but I will never give up!”

Dressed in the uniform of a courier, Luo Tiancheng spoke with solemn conviction. Most who heard him would have dismissed his words as naive fantasy, but Jiang Chen gave him an encouraging look.

“Sometimes, I almost forget that you, too, are the son of an official.”

Luo Tiancheng smiled awkwardly. “Are you mocking me, Brother Chen?”

“No, what I mean is, your principles are so upright, you’re neither arrogant nor impetuous, and, most rare of all, you still carry a heart set on protecting the common people. That’s something you scarcely ever see among those born with a silver spoon in their mouth.”

“So, sometimes I do forget you’re also a child of privilege. But staying at the post station is not the right path for you. I hope that one day you’ll truly fulfill the promise you’ve made today.”

Jiang Chen’s words held both support and sincere praise for Luo Tiancheng, but he also believed in his heart that an old fox in officialdom like Luo’s father would never let his own son risk muddying himself in such troubled waters.

To single-handedly restore the court and set things right—such a task was nearly impossible. The Da Qian court was terminally ill; all the hot-blooded idealism in the world would amount to little more than wishful thinking, changing nothing in reality.

Jiang Chen understood this all too well, but he could not bear to shatter Luo Tiancheng’s faith. He offered his support outwardly, while in his heart, he was planning something else entirely.

In extraordinary times, only extraordinary measures could contend with the ways of this world. There was no need to dip even a toe into the murky waters of the bureaucracy.

The two of them found a restaurant to eat and chat. From the conversations around him, Jiang Chen learned that the young man he so disdained was Shi Guangjun, son of the current Minister of Revenue, Shi Baili.

Apart from flaunting his privileged status, Shi Guangjun had come to Ziyang for an even more significant reason: to negotiate a marriage alliance with the city’s most prominent family, the Lins.

The powerful and influential often prefer to join forces with their own kind, ensuring that their wealth and authority only multiply with each generation, safe from decline in their descendants’ hands.

The Lin family was a renowned clan in the southern regions around Ziyang, possessing lands, assets, and grain stores numbering in the tens of thousands—far wealthier than the governor of a prosperous Da Qian province.

News of the Minister’s son marrying the Lin family’s daughter instantly became Ziyang’s hottest topic. It was clear the two families intended to unite, further solidifying their strength and status amidst the chaos of the times.

Jiang Chen put down his chopsticks and said to Luo Tiancheng, “Tiancheng, you should head back first. I still have some matters to attend to in the city. There’s no need to worry about me.”

“Alright, Brother Chen. If you need anything, just ask and I’ll do it, no questions asked.”

Not wishing to delay Luo Tiancheng’s duties at the post station, Jiang Chen sent him away—though in truth, he wanted to be alone. He had just spotted another person in the restaurant who caught his interest.

This man sat two tables away, his dark green official’s robe striking and conspicuous. Beside him rested a delicate birdcage.

He was the very official who had just been conscripting men, tearing apart innocent families, and now, with a clear conscience, drinking and dining in comfort—a sight that filled Jiang Chen with rage.

“Waiter! Bring me another plate of lamb and a pot of good wine! Be quick about it, or you’ll regret it if you get on my bad side!”

The man barked orders at the staff, swilling his wine with satisfaction and even breaking into song.

Jiang Chen sat quietly, biding his time. Only after the man had eaten his fill and staggered out into the night did Jiang Chen follow, appearing utterly nonchalant.

As they passed through a narrow alley, the night had deepened. Silently, Jiang Chen slipped ahead, unseen.

There was a dull thud.

“Ow!”

A cry of pain rang out.

“Who was that? Who just hit me?”

The man looked around, disoriented, but saw nothing in the dim alley—he seemed to be alone.

“Haunted, am I?”

He rubbed his knee. Just now, someone had struck him hard with a stick of wood. Even if he was drunk and bleary-eyed, the pain was far too real to dismiss as a hallucination.

“I know you’re there! Show yourself right now!”

To his surprise, Jiang Chen did as he wished, stepping out slowly. Yet his face was shrouded in shadow, impossible to make out.

“Are you looking for me?”

“Was it you, you bastard? Do you know who I am? I am a conscription officer sent by the Ministry of War! To lay a hand on me is to assault a court official—an offense punishable by execution of your entire clan!”

The man declared his identity, then began to rant and threaten. But Jiang Chen was unfazed, the stick in his hand swaying menacingly, ready to strike again at any moment.

“Do you hear me?”

He barked, but only brought a fresh round of blows upon himself. The alley echoed with his screams, but not a soul passed by. Even if anyone had heard, no one would dare meddle in such times.

“Stop! Please, stop! Have mercy!”

Jiang Chen asked, “You say you’re an official? What’s your name?”

“Yes, yes, I’m Zhao Sanji, sent here by order of the Ministry of War to conscript men.”

“And do you know what wicked deeds you’ve committed?”

Terrified, Zhao Sanji stammered, “I’m sorry! I never should have set my sights on the Lin family’s young lady!”