Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 381 - 18 Dragon Tiger Supervisor
Chapter 381: Chapter 18 Dragon Tiger Supervisor
Chapter 381: Chapter 18 Dragon Tiger Supervisor
Although he said he would set off, Li Yan still stayed at the Zhen residence until noon. It was only after the messenger from the County Office arrived that Li Yan and his two companions revealed their identities and had the messenger lead the way to the County Office.
The Zhen family also sent people to carry the bodies of the old lady and two maids, following the messenger to be delivered together to the morgue of the County Office. The head of the Zhen family was away on business in Zhili and wouldn’t be able to return anytime soon; as the aggrieved party, Yu Jie’er had to make the trip.
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Li Yan’s visit to the County Office was on the way and, moreover, without the official permission of the government, his departure would not have been legal.
As early as during the Jiajing era, for any matters related to ghosts, heretics, or suspected involvement with such, there was a “Dragon Tiger Supervisor” government office responsible for investigating and capturing these entities. Even if Li Yan and Cha Xiaodao had already killed the Water Corpse and identified a possible person behind the scenes, the matter still needed to be reported to the County Office and concluded with the County Magistrate’s consent, to then be handled by the local “Dragon Tiger Supervisor.” This was the law.
However, since Li Yan was carrying an imperial missive from higher-ups, even if he were to leave suddenly, it doesn’t necessarily mean there would be any consequences, but it would undoubtedly be a hassle nonetheless.
Moreover, Li Yan had his own plan.
It seemed that they were in the light while the forty-eight heretics were in the dark, but in reality, it was not so.
His escort of the Dragon Tiger Banner was by the Divine Emperor’s decree, and government offices in each state and prefecture were obliged and responsible to provide the utmost assistance to him. Li Yan should be the one wielding significant influence.
Before, when he could not find any leads, it was fine, but now, with the case at the Zhen residence and Cha Xiaodao’s accounts as corroboration, proving that a “watchman” from the heretics was the perpetrator, this provided Li Yan with a thread to start causing trouble.
Er Jianlian conveyed Lady Dan’s words to him, advising to refrain from creating more karma through killing, and Li Yan didn’t ignore the advice. However, in his view, using the power of the government to restrain the forty-eight heretics, preventing them from causing him trouble, was the best way to minimize the creation of bad karma…
On the way, the messenger did not dare to neglect his duties; after all, an official rank can be overbearing. Upon arrival at the entrance of the County Office, everything had been arranged properly. The government official had to go in to report to the County Magistrate Li, but Li Yan stopped him.
“Brother, take my badge and this official missive inside, and convey them to the County Magistrate Li, please do me this favor.”
The government official took the items given by Li Yan and ran into the government office.
About the time it takes to smoke a tobacco pipe, the government official returned, handed back the official missive and badge, saying that County Magistrate Li invites Governor Li to a meeting in the hall.
This County Magistrate Li’s full name was Li Wuyi, and he was a scholar from the twenty-eighth year of the Wanli era, with a rather good reputation.
County Magistrate Li was a young man in his twenties, looking much younger than Li Yan, with a refined appearance and proper demeanor.
Upon meeting Li Yan, who wore a vermilion sword box and carried an ancient bronze sword, he stepped forward with a fist and palm salute,
“Governor Li has come from afar; Wuyi has not had the honor of greeting you at a distance, please forgive me.”
“Not at all, not at all.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they sat down with Li Yan assuming the seat of honor.
Li Yan picked up the teacup, “Lord Li, we share the same surname, so our fate is not weak. But since I’m on an imperial mission, let’s dispense with the formalities. I believe you’ve already heard the ins and outs of the matter from your subordinates. As the local parental official, I don’t want to put you in a difficult position, but I would still like to resolve this case quickly.”
By rank, he was above the seventh-rank County Magistrate and the ninth-rank Dragon Tiger Supervisor; there was no need for him to beat around the bush with Li Wuyi.
County Magistrate Li blinked, pondered for a moment, then said, “Governor Li is straightforward. The demon killed people and was subsequently put down, with clear evidence, the case should indeed be closed. The Zhen family has no objections…”
Li Yan was taken aback and then realized what was happening.
Did the County Magistrate think that Li Yan played some unsavory role in this case, hence his eagerness to close the case due to a guilty conscience?
“That’s not what I meant.”
Li Yan coughed, “Yu Jie from the Zhen residence will testify that the skin of the old lady’s murderer bore the wristband of a watchman from the North Ten Li of Niutoulan, which clearly indicates his malevolent acts through magic. What I mean is, Lord, you should immediately dispatch someone to arrest this murderer and close the case! That way, I can also start my journey to Dragon Tiger Mountain and the Heavenly Master Tao sooner.”
“Hm, Governor Li makes a point,”
Li Wuyi nodded slightly as if he was not the person who had just suggested closing the case.
“However, Governor Li, this matter is a bit troublesome.”
“Troublesome? What’s so troublesome? As a magistrate of a county, do you not even have the authority to arrest a watchman?”
Li Yan raised an eyebrow.
County Magistrate Li shook his head, “I can certainly dispatch men for that, and it will only take a couple of days to write to the Minister of Punishments to issue a capture warrant. However, arresting heretics and demons is the duty of the Dragon Tiger Supervisor, not just for me as County Magistrate, even the Minister of Punishments, without the Divine Emperor’s decree, would be overstepping his bounds to order their capture.”
Li Yan nodded, “Then it’s an easy fix. Before I came here, a Dragon Tiger Taoist from General Li’s side gave me the Imperial Cavalry Command Token, which can command the local Dragon Tiger Supervisors. Find that person, and I’ll speak to him.”
“That would be great!” Li Wuyi was visibly invigorated, “When Supervisor Guo arrives tomorrow afternoon, I will make sure to convey this to him.”
“Tomorrow afternoon?” Li Yan’s brows knitted, “What is he doing right now?”
“Oh, Governor Li might not be aware, but the Dragon Tiger Office differs from our County Office; they have seven days off every ten days. Supervisor Guo will officially be working from tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait that long, summon him to meet me now.”
“This…”
Li Wuyi’s face filled with difficulty. After a long pause, he said, “Governor Li, please forgive my bluntness, but the Dragon Tiger Office… does not directly align with our civil and military administration, and Supervisor Guo is quite an obstinate man. Even if I were to send someone, I fear they might not…”
Li Yan lowered his head, drained the tea in the cup with a gulp, and suddenly let out a light chuckle, “As I mentioned earlier, County Magistrate Li and I are family. I wouldn’t want to put family in a difficult spot. You just go ahead and send someone. Oh, right. There are still the plaintiffs from the Zhen Residence and one of my subordinates standing outside the government office. You go ahead and take care of their lodging first. I will wait here with County Magistrate Li for Supervisor Guo to arrive…”
“If that’s the case, very well then.”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi nodded, gave instructions for arrangements to be made, and the two of them waited inside the room.
The two of them chatted occasionally, and after about finishing a pot of tea, the government official who was sent to summon Supervisor Guo ran back.
“How did it go, the business you were tasked with?”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi asked.
“Reporting to Lord Li, Supervisor Guo says he’s preoccupied with official duties. Just submit the petition to the Dragon Tiger Office’s Petition Tube, and when he attends court tomorrow, he will deal with it naturally.”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi frowned and said, “Didn’t you tell him that Governor Li has arrived?”
Li Yan glanced at County Magistrate Li Wuyi and, without a word, blew on the tea leaves at the bottom of his cup.
“I did mention that a Lord Li from the Liaodong Guard was here.”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi with a stern face asked, “And how did Supervisor Guo respond to you?”
Before the government official could speak, Li Yan waved his hand dismissively, “Enough, enough, brother, trouble you to make another trip. Take this and hand it to Supervisor Guo.”
He pulled out the Wordless Iron Plaque given to him by the Taoist and handed it to the government official.
Armed with the iron token, the government official left, and after the time it took to drink another pot of tea, he returned.
“What did Supervisor Guo say?”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi dragged out his words.
“Supervisor Guo says he understands.”
The government official seemed somewhat intimidated.
Chewing on the tea leaf stems, Li Yan asked again, “What about my plaque?”
“Well… I gave it to the servant at Supervisor Guo’s residence, and he didn’t see me again.”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi became instantly furious, “Damn it! Incompetence!”
“Lord Li, why are you getting angry?”
Li Yan said calmly, waving his hand, “Now that Supervisor Guo says he’s aware, he must be on his way here. Just wait a little longer.”
That waiting stretched into the evening.
They refilled and drank teacup after teacup.
County Magistrate Li Wuyi grew increasingly agitated, cursing Supervisor Guo, while Li Yan showed little concern.
It was evident that County Magistrate Li Wuyi often suffered at the hands of Supervisor Guo. Today’s incident wasn’t just a coincidence; it was a deliberate strategy to set a trap. However, Li Yan didn’t mind.
“Ahem, Lord Governor, perhaps tomorrow…”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi knew there was a limit to everything. Despite Li Yan’s calm demeanor, County Magistrate Li Wuyi was certain that the governor’s rage was reaching the skies.
Just then, a drunken voice came from outside.
“Li Wuyi, hahaha~ Which Governor Li is looking for me?”
Saying this, a chubby man in a black Daoist robe staggered in with an unsteady gait. His clothes were disheveled, with lipstick marks on his neck, a jar of wine in his arms, and a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.
“Such lack of manners! Do you think people from Dragon Tiger Mountain are so easily commanded?”
Slurring his words, he said, “Governor? Bullshit Governor.”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi’s eyelid twitched; perhaps he had provoked too much trouble.
He had heard of this Governor Li of the Daning Guard, a favored commander of the Li Chengliang lineage, who had distinguished himself countless times on the Joseon battlefield. He was by no means a pushover, and the intention was to draw out the typically arrogant and overbearing Governor Guo. However, if the two were to clash now, the situation could spiral out of control.
Unexpectedly, Li Yan erupted into boisterous laughter and stood up to greet the guest.
“Is the arriving gentleman Supervisor Guo from the Heavenly Master Tao? My, my, I am Li Yan, the left governor of the Daning Guard Bureau, at your service. I apologize for not having welcomed you from afar, please excuse me.”
County Magistrate Li Wuyi listened, recognizing his own earlier words to Li Yan.
