bestowing talisman sword
The snow hadn't stopped, but the wind on Dragon Head Plain grew even sharper, like countless icy needles piercing through layers of armor, drilling straight into the bones. The dust and smoke from the collapse of the Soul-Suppressing Monument had long been swept away by the wind and snow, leaving only scattered rubble and a deeper, more profound silence. The blood-dripping wolf skull talisman, stuck in a crack in the monument's base, had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed, leaving only a chilling mystery, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
Xiao Yuxuan did not leave this cursed land. He refused his personal guard Chen Zhong's request to immediately return to the relatively safe camp, but instead sent Xuan Weizi back to the dilapidated military camp with the charred ruler inscribed with the character "An" and the blood-stained fragments of the Soul-Suppressing Stele to begin preparations for the school's foundation laying. He himself, with a troop of silent personal guards, stood like a cold stone statue on the edge of the Ghost Plain, beside the ominous, purplish-black, oily swamp.
He's watching.
Driven by the overseer's whip, the laborers, like walking corpses, resumed clearing the ruins of the Soul-Suppressing Monument and moving new stones. Their movements were slower than before, their eyes more vacant. Each pounding of a stone felt like a blow to their own bones. In the distance, the heart of the Dragon Head Plain, shrouded in poisonous miasma like a giant, festering sore, stretched its twisted, withered trees like dying arms reaching towards the gray sky. Beneath their feet, the purplish-black poisonous mud, soaked with blood, tears, and resentment, each "plop" of a boot sinking into and being pulled out sounded like the earth's painful groan.
He is waiting.
Waiting for that official sedan chair, a symbol of the majesty of the court, but also a symbol of deadly shackles.
The wind and snow subsided slightly as evening approached, but the sky darkened even faster, with leaden clouds hanging low as if about to collapse at any moment. Just as the world was shrouded in twilight, at the end of the official road, a solemn ceremonial procession, like a winding, crawling black python, pierced through the gray-white snow curtain and slowly approached.
Leading the procession were eight burly, cold-faced knights in black armor, their warhorses tall and magnificent, their saddles gleaming, the bronze bells hanging from their necks jingling monotonously with each step. The knights' hands, gripping their swords, were as steady as rocks, their eyes sharp as hawks, scanning the desolate, lifeless land with a condescending scrutiny and undisguised vigilance. Following closely behind the knights was a black official sedan chair carried by four men. The chair was wide, crafted from heavy ebony, its curtains tightly closed, airtight, and its roof covered with black brocade symbolizing official rank, swaying slightly in the wind and snow, exuding a heavy, oppressive aura. On either side of the chair, two servants in blue robes trotted along, carrying vermilion trays covered with bright yellow brocade, obscuring the contents. Finally, eight more knights in black armor brought up the rear, their hooves pounding the snow, leaving clear hoofprints.
The procession stopped about ten zhang away from Xiao Yuxuan. The lead knights reined in their horses, their movements perfectly synchronized, like cast iron. The entire procession froze instantly, a chilling aura spreading out, even weakening the bitter wind and snow of this Ghost Plain.
A servant in blue robes quickly stepped forward, bowed to the closed sedan curtain, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Governor Xiao Yuxuan of Hexi is waiting ahead!"
The sedan chair remained silent for a moment.
"Creak—"
The heavy, dark sedan curtain was lifted from the inside by a hand wearing a black jade thumb ring.
A figure slowly leaned out.
The newcomer appeared to be around forty years old, slender in build, and dressed in a perfectly tailored official robe made of the finest dark brocade. The robe was embroidered with intricate black bird and cloud patterns in extremely fine silver thread, subtly flowing in the dim light, exuding a restrained luxury. His face was gaunt, with slightly high cheekbones, and his skin a pale white, the result of prolonged indoor exposure to sunlight. His long, narrow eyes, with slightly drooping corners, and extremely dark pupils, like two bottomless ancient wells, were calmly and emotionlessly observing Xiao Yuxuan, who stood prominently not far away. His lips were thin, habitually pursed, forming two deep nasolabial folds, adding to his harsh and cold demeanor.
It was the newly appointed tax inspector, Yan Yang, a prominent Legalist official.
He alighted from the sedan chair, but did not immediately approach Xiao Yuxuan. Instead, he first straightened his already impeccably tailored robe sleeves and the jade belt hanging at his waist. His movements were slow and deliberate, carrying an almost austere elegance. He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the ravaged construction site of the Soul-Suppressing Monument, over the churning poisonous swamp in the distance, before finally settling on Xiao Yuxuan. His gaze was as if he were appraising a cold, lifeless object, or a document requiring an assessment.
“Commander Xiao.” Yan Yang spoke, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear, carrying a cold, hard quality like metal rubbing against stone, piercing through the howling wind and snow. “I’ve kept you waiting. It’s cold at Longshou Plain, yet the Commander seems to be in high spirits.” His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, but the words “in high spirits” were like an invisible needle, piercing Xiao Yuxuan’s intentions in waiting here.
Xiao Yuxuan clasped his hands in a standard gesture, his voice equally calm and even: "The tax inspector has come a long way and must be tired. It is my duty, and I dare not neglect it." His gaze met Yan Yang's deep, unfathomable eyes without flinching. Their gazes met briefly in the air, as if cold sparks were flying.
The nasolabial folds at the corners of Yan Yang's mouth seemed to have deepened. He nodded slightly, said nothing more, and strode forward. The black-armored knights and the blue-clad servants followed closely behind, like stars surrounding the moon.
The two stopped at the edge of the Ghost Plain, where the sweet, pungent, and putrid stench emanating from the poisonous swamp was most intense. Beneath their feet were the knee prints, stained with dark red blood, left by Xiao Yuxuan earlier.
"The governor's seal, tally, and ribbon are all here." Yan Yang turned slightly and gestured to the bailiff carrying the tray.
A servant immediately stepped forward, bowed, and held the vermilion lacquered tray covered with bright yellow brocade high in his hands. Yan Yang extended his slender finger, adorned with a black jade thumb ring, and with elegant and precise movements, peeled back the layers of brocade.
On the tray, three seals reflected a heavy, metallic gleam in the dim light of the day.
At the very top is a gold seal with a tiger-shaped knob. The knob depicts a fierce tiger poised to pounce, its powerful form and bared fangs conveying a sense of strength. Within the small space of the seal face, the seven large characters "Seal of the Military Governor of Hexi" are engraved in the most solemn Qin seal script, the strokes sharp and chiseled, exuding a chilling aura of warfare. This seal held the authority to command, deploy, and defend the armies of Hexi.
The central seal is a silver seal with a dragon-shaped knob. The knob is a coiled dragon, its form slightly more restrained than that of a tiger-shaped knob, yet more ancient and majestic. The inscription reads "Seal of the Governor-General of Hexi on Civil Affairs," signifying his responsibility for governing all aspects of people's livelihood, including household registration, taxes (nominally), agriculture, public works, and criminal law (partially).
The bottommost seal is a bronze seal with a tortoise-shaped knob. The knob is a sturdy tortoise-shaped object supporting the seal body. The inscription reads "Seal Made by the Craftsmen of Hexi Governor-General," signifying his authority over all artisans, workshops, construction, and crafts within the territory.
The three seals, made of different materials and with different knobs, all exude a cold and heavy aura unique to power.
Yan Yang's gaze swept over the three seals, finally settling on another item on the edge of the tray. It was a bronze talisman, about a foot long and three inches wide. The talisman was dark blue, its surface covered with fine traces of erosion from the passage of time. On one side, a black bird totem with outstretched wings was engraved in intaglio, its lines ancient and mysterious, a symbol of royal authority; on the other side, eight powerful Qin seal characters were engraved in relief: "As if I were personally present, Hexi would act expediently!" These eight characters were the imperial sword hanging over the heads of the soldiers and civilians of Hexi, and also over Xiao Yuxuan's heart—granting him the supreme privilege of acting first and reporting later in the event of urgent military affairs, civil uprisings, or other extraordinary situations in Hexi!
However, this talisman was not complete. It had split in two, forming two halves that fit together perfectly. At this moment, only the right half was placed on the tray. The missing left half was undoubtedly in the hands of the supreme emperor deep within the Xianyang Palace.
Yan Yang stretched out both hands and solemnly picked up the heavy bronze right tally, then gestured to the servants to bring the tray containing the three seals to Xiao Yuxuan. His movements were slow and ceremonial, each subtle pause seemingly emphasizing the sacredness and inviolability of power.
"Xiao Yuxuan, Governor of Hexi, kneel—to receive the seal!" Yan Yang's voice suddenly rose, carrying a penetrating authority, like a gavel slamming into the silent courtroom.
The wind and snow seemed to freeze at that moment. All eyes were focused on Xiao Yuxuan.
The armored knight gripped his sword hilt, his gaze piercing. The blue-clad servant held his breath, focused intently. Even the laborers clearing the ruins in the distance stopped what they were doing, staring blankly in their direction. Even the churning bubbles of the poisonous swamp seemed to quiet down for a moment.
Xiao Yuxuan took a slow breath. The cold, poisonous air filled his lungs. He lifted the hem of his battle robe, his movements steady and without the slightest hesitation or humiliation. His right knee bent, followed by his left, a perfect one-knee military salute, as he knelt once more on the cold, filthy, scorched earth. Where his knee landed, was the mark stained with his blood from before.
He raised his head, his gaze meeting the bronze right tally in Yan Yang's hand, a symbol of "as if the Emperor were present." The wings of the black bird on the tally seemed to come alive in the dim light, carrying the Emperor's will, pressing down heavily.
"Your subject, Xiao Yuxuan," his voice, though not loud, was exceptionally clear and firm, like the clang of metal on metal, "I accept the imperial decree and express my gratitude!"
He stretched out both hands, palms up, and steadily held the heavy bronze right tally that Yan Yang handed him. The cold metallic touch instantly spread through his limbs; the weight almost broke his arms. Immediately afterwards, the bailiff respectfully placed a tray containing three seals on his hands that held the tally.
Gold seal, silver seal, bronze seal, half-talisman.
Military power, civil rights, artisan rights, royal decrees.
Glory, shackles, hope, noose.
All the weight, all the contradictions, all the expectations and the killing intent, pressed heavily on Xiao Yuxuan's palms at this moment. His arm muscles bulged, his knuckles turned white from the force, but his body remained as still as a rock rooted to the earth.
Yan Yang watched as Xiao Yuxuan steadily shouldered the immense burden, his deep, unfathomable eyes remaining utterly calm. He took a half-step back and picked up the glaring crimson scroll from a vermilion tray held by another servant.
"The new governor is a great honor, a testament to the Emperor's boundless grace." Yan Yang's voice returned to its previous calm and cold tone, but the act of unfurling the scroll carried the chilling air of reciting a verdict. "However, Hexi has just been recovered, and everything is in ruins, military supplies are plentiful, and the people are impoverished. In order to consolidate the foundation of the nation and prepare for the army, His Majesty hereby issues the following decree: From this day forward, all prefectures in Hexi shall reinstate the 'Wartime Emergency Tax Order'!"
His voice suddenly turned sharp, each word piercing the wind and snow like an icicle:
"For all people in Hexi, regardless of whether they are military households, artisan households, or migrant households, the land tax will be increased by 30%! The poll tax will be doubled! The salt and iron monopoly tax will be increased by 50%! Merchants will be taxed 15% of the value of their goods!"
"Anyone who conceals land or population, or falsely reports their artisan register, shall have their property confiscated, and the ringleader shall be executed by being cut in half at the waist!"
"Anyone who fails to pay taxes by the due date or resists payment..."
Yan Yang's gaze, like a cold blade, swept over the ragged, emaciated figures of the laborers in the distance, finally settling on Xiao Yuxuan, who was kneeling in the poisonous mud, his hands holding the seal. He uttered, clearly and distinctly, the final vermilion-marked vermilion judgment:
"...According to wartime law, execute immediately!"
The three words "execute immediately" resounded like three death knells in the deathly silence of the Dragon Head Plain! The murderous intent, carrying a strong stench of blood, instantly overwhelmed the howling wind and snow, and the churning of the poisonous swamp, clearly reaching the ears of everyone!
In the distance, a laborer carrying stones shuddered violently, his foot slipped, and the heavy stones crashed to the ground with a dull thud. He collapsed to the ground, his desperate sobs trapped in his throat, leaving only his body trembling violently.
Xiao Yuxuan's hands, which were holding the seal, sank slightly for a fleeting moment, almost imperceptibly. The cold talisman and seal seemed to have turned into a red-hot branding iron, searing his palms and his heart. The vermilion annotations on the crimson scroll, like dripping blood, flickered before his eyes.
Yan Yang closed the scroll, his gaze returning to Xiao Yuxuan. A barely perceptible, cold scrutiny and mockery finally flashed across his deep, abyss-like eyes. He handed the crimson scroll to Xiao Yuxuan, his voice returning to its usual rigid tone: "This is a copy of His Majesty's edict. Please, Commander Xiao... act accordingly."
With the seal in his palm, shackles were placed upon his body.
Using both kindness and severity, they pressed on relentlessly.
Xiao Yuxuan slowly raised his head. The wind and snow lashed his face, which was covered in ice shards, and a few strands of hair clung to his forehead. He did not immediately take the crimson death warrant. His gaze passed over the scroll Yan Yang handed him, past his pale and harsh face, and once again fell upon the distant, ant-like figures struggling in the wind and snow.
He saw the old man being whipped curled up in the cold mud, saw the swollen, blackened ankle sticking out from under the straw mat in the ditch, saw the withered, severed hand swaying in the cold wind on the withered tree branch... Countless numb, desperate, and terrified faces flashed before his eyes.
He knelt on the blood-soaked, scorched earth, holding the seal of authority.
Then, he did something that surprised everyone.
His free left hand suddenly reached for his waist!
"Clang—!"
A crisp metallic scraping sound!
The armored knight instantly became alert, his hand on the hilt of his sword tightened abruptly, and several sharp gazes locked onto Xiao Yuxuan as if they were tangible! Yan Yang's narrow eyes also narrowed slightly, and a cold glint flashed deep in his pupils.
However, what Xiao Yuxuan drew was not a weapon.
It was a short sword, about a foot long, with a simple and archaic design. The scabbard was made of ebony, without any ornate decorations, except for a band of heavily worn bronze around the hilt. This was a ceremonial sword commonly carried by military generals, symbolizing status and used more for ceremonies than for actual combat.
Xiao Yuxuan gripped the scabbard of the ceremonial sword tightly in his left hand, while his right hand steadily supported the heavy talisman tray. His gaze remained fixed on the distant, ant-like laborers.
"Governor Xiao, what do you mean by this?" Yan Yang's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible wariness.
Xiao Yuxuan did not answer. He suddenly exerted force with his left hand, which was gripping the scabbard, and his wrist flicked!
"Sizzle—!"
A sharp, tearing sound rang out across the silent snowfield!
The edge of the worn bronze band at the end of the scabbard was exceptionally sharp! With the movement of his wrist, the scabbard, like a paper cutter, precisely and decisively sliced across the lower left hem of his battle robe!
A large piece of thick, blue battle robe fabric, stained with mud and dark red blood, fell to the ground with a thud! Like a bird with broken wings, it landed in the purplish-black poisonous mud, instantly becoming filthy.
Cut off the robe!
Amidst Yan Yang's astonishment, the Xuanjia knights' vigilance, and the bewildered laborers in the distance, Xiao Yuxuan, holding the ceremonial sword with the hem of his robe torn off in his left hand and the talisman tray symbolizing power and shackles in his right, remained kneeling on one knee. His gaze was as firm as a rock, and his voice, like a resounding bell, pierced through the swirling snow and clearly echoed across the sky above Longshou Plain.
"The importance of official seals lies in the lives of the people, not in those in power!"
"With this robe as my witness, Xiao Yuxuan has been entrusted with this important mission. I am only willing to use my body and this sword to protect the people of Hexi and give them a chance to breathe!"
“Those exorbitant taxes are like tigers, devouring the people’s blood and sweat. I, Xiao, dare not obey the imperial edict! If, within three years, Longxi cannot be restored to its former inhabitants and Hexi cannot regain its vitality, I, Xiao, will resign my post and personally go to Xianyang to face the laws of the land! But before that—”
His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable resolve, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring directly into Yan Yang's unfathomable eyes:
"The taxes levied on Hexi should prioritize the survival of the people! I, Xiao, will not accept this decree!"
The word "unacceptable" struck like a thunderbolt!
Dead silence.
Absolute silence enveloped this scorched earth.
The wind and snow seemed to freeze in the face of these earth-shattering words. The laborers in the distance stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the figure kneeling in the poisonous mud, severing all ties. The armored knights' swords froze in mid-air, their faces showing surprise and uncertainty for the first time. Even the churning bubbles of the poisonous swamp seemed to pause for a moment.
Yan Yang's composure was finally shattered. His deep, abyss-like eyes suddenly narrowed, as if a cold flame ignited deep within his pupils, and an unnatural blush rose on his pale cheeks. He stared intently at Xiao Yuxuan, at the ceremonial sword with the hem of his robe cut off in his hand, at the heavy seal held in his palm, and at the piece of blue robe that had fallen into the poisonous mud.
The deep nasolabial folds were twisted, like a venomous snake coiled up.
“Governor Xiao…” Yan Yang’s voice was as if squeezed out from between his teeth, with a metallic, grating quality, and chilling to the bone, “What courage! What responsibility! To swear an oath to disobey the king’s orders? Do you know that this is treason!”
Facing Yan Yang's icy gaze that seemed to pierce through him, Xiao Yuxuan's arm holding the seal remained as steady as a mountain, yet his voice was unusually calm, even carrying a hint of relief after the dust had settled: "Tax Inspector, you flatter me. What I refused was not by His Majesty's decree, but by the tyrannical tiger of oppressive rule. Having received this body and this seal from Hexi, I should plead for the people of Hexi. If His Majesty punishes me for this, I... will bear the consequences."
"What a fine example of taking on all the responsibility!" Yan Yang suddenly flicked his sleeve, creating a gust of cold wind. He stared at the hem of his robe soaked in the poisonous mud, then looked up at Xiao Yuxuan. A chilling, emotionless smile suddenly appeared on his lips, a smile that, instead of easing the atmosphere, seemed to freeze the surrounding air. "Governor Xiao has such 'responsibility,' this envoy... will be watching closely."
He stopped looking at Xiao Yuxuan, turned around abruptly, and shouted sternly at the ceremonial guard: "Turn back!"
The armored knights and blue-clad servants, as if waking from a dream, immediately surrounded Yan Yang and quickly retreated towards the dark-colored official sedan chair. Before Yan Yang boarded the chair, he paused slightly, turned his head, and gave Xiao Yuxuan, still kneeling on one knee in the snow and mud, one last glance. His eyes were complex and unfathomable, containing anger, astonishment, and a hidden, venomous calculation. The sedan chair curtain fell with a "whoosh," separating the inside from the outside. The entire procession did not stop for a moment, proceeding as swiftly and solemnly as the receding tide along the official road, soon disappearing into the gray snowstorm.
The wind and snow enveloped Longshou Plain again, as if the thrilling confrontation had never happened.
Xiao Yuxuan remained kneeling there.
He held the heavy talisman tray in both hands, and in his left hand he held the ceremonial sword from which a corner of his robe had been cut off.
The cold half-stamp, the cold seal, the cold sword hilt.
In the distance, the overseer, Wang Xu, seemed to have recovered from his immense shock. He looked in the direction the procession had disappeared, then at the statue-like figure by the poisonous swamp. Fear and confusion flashed across his face, finally settling into a fierce expression. He abruptly raised his leather whip and lashed it fiercely at the nearest laborer who stood frozen in place!
"What are you looking at! Get to work! If you don't finish clearing the tombstone base before dusk, I'll skin you alive!"
"Crack!" The whip rang out, followed by a suppressed cry of pain.
The wind and snow howled, and the sounds of whips and sobs mingled. The transfer and confrontation of power, like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, had not yet subsided when a deeper whirlpool was already quietly brewing beneath this wounded land.
Xiao Yuxuan slowly stood up. His knees left the cold, poisonous mud, leaving two deeper marks. He looked down at the silver seal with a dragon-shaped knob inscribed with "Seal of the Governor of Hexi Civil Affairs" on the tray, then at the hem of his blue robe lying in the filth. His face, covered in ash and icy shards, was expressionless. Only his eyes, deep as an icy pool, burned with two faint but incredibly stubborn flames in the wind and snow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
