Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World-Chapter 90 - 89: The Far-Reaching Entanglement of Interests
Outside the Government Office.
Before Zheng Tianhai could reach the Government Office, he saw the County Magistrate, Chang Younian, his face ashen with fury, shouting at all the government officials and soldiers:
"Qi Yue, as the Director of the Inspection Bureau, take your men and seal the four gates at all costs! From this moment on, without my order, not a single person is to be let out!"
"Also, send men to notify all the Noble Races, Gangs, and Martial Arts Halls! Tell them to dispatch all their Martial Artists to suppress these refugees! Otherwise, I will make them regret it! Go!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Qi Yue swiftly departed with the somewhat panicked government officials.
Li Lu was among them, his expression grim. As he turned to leave, he ran into Chief Constable Zheng, who had just arrived.
"Chief Constable Zheng." Li Lu quickly stopped and cupped his fist.
"Li Lu? Hmm, go on about your business." Zheng Tianhai nodded slightly. Seeing him, however, he was suddenly reminded of Cheng Zongyang and couldn’t help but add, "Oh, and remember to make sure your family is settled and safe!"
Li Lu’s face filled with gratitude as he cupped his fist again. "Thank you for your concern, Chief Constable Zheng. This humble subordinate is deeply grateful."
With that, he quickly left.
’Since my superior’s superior gave his permission, I can stop by and settle my family on my way to notify the South City Martial Arts Hall.’
After everyone at the entrance had departed, only Chang Younian and the calm, indifferent, black-robed steward holding a folding fan behind him remained. Zheng Tianhai walked up to Chang Younian, cupped his fist, and said:
"County Magistrate, the East City Gate is secure. The situation at the other gates is still unknown."
Hearing that the East City Gate had not been breached, Chang Younian’s thunderously dark expression finally eased slightly. He said:
"My thanks for your hard work, Chief Constable Zheng. I hope you will continue to lead your men in sealing the city gates and prevent the situation from escalating!"
Zheng Tianhai shook his head slightly. "It is my duty. But, County Magistrate, this situation... it can no longer be suppressed!"
Hearing those last five words, Chang Younian took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He didn’t want to lash out at Zheng Tianhai, so he just said expressionlessly:
"Rest assured. As long as the city gates are sealed, I will handle everything that follows."
"By slaughtering all the refugees?" Zheng Tianhai seemed to have guessed his intentions and stated it bluntly, without any pretense.
Chang Younian stared at Zheng Tianhai and said coldly, "I have already spoken! You are dismissed!"
But Zheng Tianhai didn’t move. His tone also grew cold as he continued:
"The Gate Valves use the famine to reshuffle the deck, the Noble Families use the refugees to gain promotions and titles, and the Noble Races scramble to plunder the wealth of the common people! And for what? Are you all going to completely disregard the lives of tens of thousands of refugees, and even the tens of thousands of citizens in this city?"
"Zheng Tianhai!"
Having the truth laid bare so directly was like having a loincloth ripped away, exposing two years of sordid dealings. Chang Younian instantly flew into a rage:
"You are not from the main branch of the Zheng Family; you are an abandoned child from a side branch! Do you still think you have the Zheng Family backing you?
If it weren’t for the sake of the Zheng Family’s reputation, do you think you could act so unscrupulously in this county, enforcing your so-called rules?"
"How I act is the will of those above! The struggle between the Noble Families in this county affects the grand scheme of the Commandery City, and even the Prefecture City—one wrong move affects the entire situation! Don’t tell me that you, a so-called descendant of the Zheng Family, actually want to see the Zhu Family step on the Zheng Family and suppress them?
Hmph, even my Chang Family knows what must be done. You pedantic fool, it’s no wonder you were cast out! Get lost!!"
Zheng Tianhai watched Chang Younian’s towering rage with a blank expression, ignoring the contempt and scorn in his words.
Only after the other man had finished did he say faintly:
"Those whose paths diverge cannot plan together. The Zhu Family’s spies in the city are watching your every move. Those who play with fire will be burned by it. You planned to use the refugees, to sit back and watch as they besieged the County Town, knowing full well that an epidemic would break out. And yet, you did it all just to gain the so-called credit for mana—"
"That’s enough!!"
A tyrannical aura erupted from Chang Younian’s body. In an instant, he appeared before Zheng Tianhai and slammed a fist into his chest, sending him flying!
Zheng Tianhai crashed heavily to the ground, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Chang Younian stared at him, his voice chillingly cold.
"Anyone who obstructs my plans will die! The only reason you’re still alive to provoke me is your surname, not your Ability! Furthermore, you are stripped of your post. From this moment on, you are no longer a Chief Constable, but a commoner! If you dare to cross my line again, I will have you thrown in prison!"
With that, Chang Younian flicked his sleeve and turned to enter the County Magistrate’s Office.
’He wouldn’t dare kill Zheng Tianhai. Not even if he was an abandoned disciple from a side branch. For no other reason than his surname! A member of the Zheng Family was someone his Chang Family could not touch!’
The young, black-robed steward behind him glanced at Zheng Tianhai, a faint smile touching his lips, and slowly followed Chang Younian. It was as if he was completely unconcerned by all these changes and secrets.
Zheng Tianhai clutched his chest and slowly rose to his feet, his expression turning grave.
’A Seventh Grade Martial Artist!!’
’This Chang Younian has hidden himself so deeply!’
In the six or seven years he had been in the County Town, Chang Younian had fought on no more than a handful of occasions since taking office. When he did, the strength he displayed had always been at the Ninth Grade level.
Therefore, almost everyone assumed the County Magistrate was an official with a Ninth Grade cultivation. After all, there weren’t many officials who cultivated both the literary and martial paths.
’Who would have thought that the aura he had just unleashed was actually as strong as the Seventh Grade!’
"Chang Younian! The Chang Family!"
Zheng Tianhai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and his beard, his gaze inscrutable as he watched the back of the figure entering the County Magistrate’s Office.
He knew very well what Chang Younian was trying to do.
There are four Noble Families in Qianye Prefecture: the Chang and Li Families, who are vassals of the Zheng Family, and the Lu and Gu Families, who are vassals of the Zhu Family.
Chang Younian was doing all this to gain credit for settling the refugees and treating the epidemic. The Zheng Family would then use this to maneuver within the Imperial Court, have the current Qianye Prefecture Prefect, Zhu Shouren, transferred away, and have Chang Younian take his place.
A Prefect was qualified to have a voice in the Imperial Court!
This would not only eliminate the Zhu Family’s influence in the Imperial Court and the Commandery City, but also further suppress and encroach upon their vassal Noble Families, the Lu and Gu Families.
Da Liang’s officials were appointed through a recommendation system.
If this succeeded, not only would the Zheng Family’s voice in the Imperial Court grow stronger, but as their vassals, the Chang Family’s power in Qianye Prefecture would also increase.
As a knock-on effect, the Noble Races in the county favored by Chang Younian could, through political maneuvering, have their members appointed as officials, becoming a Noble Family in the Commandery City overnight. This would in turn increase the Chang Family’s power and influence within the Commandery City, allowing them to further suppress the influence of the Noble Families allied with the Zhu Family!
Even to become the weakest of the Noble Families, these Noble Races would fight with everything they had!
When family interests were at stake, no one would give in without a fight!
Therefore, as long as the four families of Zhao, Wang, Ma, and Fan could suppress the An and Miao Families, they could begin to encroach upon them! This would continue until the Chang Family brought Jade Peak County into its fold, and the Zheng Family brought all of Qianye Prefecture under its influence.
Afterward, they could use Qianye Prefecture and Jade Peak County to help suppress their rivals’ power in the neighboring prefectures and counties!
Zheng Tianhai couldn’t articulate all the interconnected interests and reciprocal benefits involved. But as someone who was once part of a side branch of the Zheng Family, he understood that these entanglements were just as Chang Younian had said: one wrong move could affect the entire situation.
Once it began, there was no turning back!
Because this wasn’t just about the interests of the Zheng Family Gate Valve; it also involved the interests of their many vassal powers!
Most importantly, the Zheng Family would never stop!
The Eighteen Gate Valves of the Da Liang Kingdom held sway from the Imperial Court down to the common people.
Conflict was the norm!
For the Gate Valves, a year of drought was an opportunity to break a stalemate that had lasted for centuries.
After two years of struggle, the outcome was now almost decided.
’I can understand why Chang Younian would never give up. Not even for the lives of an entire county’s population! As long as the news doesn’t reach the Imperial Court, no one will care about the death toll. But while I understand, I will never accept it!’
It was precisely because of this uncompromising nature that he had been abandoned by his family.
A disciple who ignored and disregarded the family’s interests could only be expelled! The long-term development of the family had no need for someone who was soft-hearted and tried to be a saint!
"So be it. Perhaps my cousin was right. With my disposition, I’m only suited to marrying, having children, and living a quiet life. I’m not cut out for the struggles of the Imperial Court and the family."
Zheng Tianhai watched the people fleeing on the road, a sense of desolation washing over him. He turned and walked away.
